Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu has reacted to the attack on students of Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, returning from a religious programme on Saturday in Imo State, urging the state Commissioner of Police, CP Janet Agbede to liaise with her counterpart in Imo to arrest the perpetrators.
The students were said to have ran into the hoodlums operating along Ihube, Okigwe LGA of Imo State, where one of them, Master Ede Donald was killed and three other students of the school killed.
The state governor in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and made available to ABN TV while expressing sadness over the incident reiterated its readiness to bring the hoodlums to book.
He said, “Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede, to, as a matter of urgency, liaise with her counterpart in Imo State to swiftly arrest the hoodlums and bring them to justice.
“Abia State Government has also confirmed from the management of Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, that the three students who sustained injuries from the attack have been treated and discharged while the parents of Master Ede Donald have been contacted.”
The statement also warned the people it described as agents of opposition to desist from spreading false rumours for political purposes,
The governor said it is not true that ten students of ABSU were abducted in the state, urging them to stop working against the interest of Abians.
“While we commiserate with parents of the deceased, students, staff and management of Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, over this unfortunate incident in our neighboring state, we condemn in totality the attempt by agents of opposition political actors in our state whose stock in trade is spreading fake news to diminish the state.
“The circulating report sponsored by these unconscionable individuals that ten students of Abia State University, Uturu, were abducted yesterday is not only untrue but also wicked and a creation of the evil minds of those who are ready to do anything in pursuit of their selfish objectives against the overall interests of the State.
“The management of Abia State University, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof Maxwell Ogbulu, has confirmed that no student of the institution was abducted yesterday as against fake reports obviously sponsored by these elements.
“We shall however continue to update Abians on issues affecting the State and her people with sincerity of purpose” he concluded.
