As the EndBadGovernance protest enters its third day, Imo State residents have decried the Inspector General of Police’s deployment of planes to the state, calling it needless and potential of exacerbating the already tense situation.
Confirming the deployment of the aircraft, ASP Henry Okoye, spokesperson for the State Police Command, noted in a statement that the action is in keeping with the IGP’s directive to provide absolute security in the state, and urged the residents not to panic.
The police spokesperson said:
“Kudos to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, for deploying Police Helicopter on Surveillance-Air-Patrol in Imo.”
Some residents who contacted with our correspondent described their horror when they saw the aircraft hovering above the state capital, Owerri, on Saturday.
One of the residents, Obinna Nkemakolam, a commercial bus driver in the city, stated that the aircraft deployment was unnecessary because Imo, like other South-East states, is not participating in the national protest.
He questioned why the police opted to focus on the South-East region while ignoring hostile areas such as the North-East and North Central.
“Imo, likewise other states in the South-East, is peaceful. We are not participating in the protest to avoid being made the scape goat. I don’t know the essence of sending the aircraft. I’m happy that Ndigbo are now speaking with one voice,” he added.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
