Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said that the government will not be deterred by propaganda and blackmail in her quest to protect the lives and property of Imo citizens.
He spoke on Monday after the Imo State Security Council meeting with regard to the alleged incident that took place at Awomama on Monday that led to the death of some bandits.
Governor Uzodimma said that the government had been briefed on the incident by the Director of State Services in an interim report made available to members of the Security Council.
The Governor added that the DSS Director confirmed that his men carried out an operation in a Camp at Awomma with the assistance of their informant and not at a wedding place as claimed by the youths and that it was in the process that some bandits were neutralised.
He said while the Security Council awaits a detailed report on the incident, it is important that the public are wary of those using the incident as a propaganda tool to blackmail the Security agencies and the government.
Governor Uzodimma also used the opportunity to describe as fallacy, the claim on the social media and section of the traditional media about a 15 year old girl allegedly impregnated in the DSS detention.
According to the Governor, a security report indicated that two ladies who were caught with bandits about six months ago have been helping the DSS in identifying and arresting other dangerous bandits in the State.
Incidentally, the so-called 15 year old lady happens to be the girl friend to a key gang leader of the bandits terrorising the State but on the trail by DSS operatives.
The Governor said a security report has shown that the fleeing gang leader had reached out to his sponsors who have resorted to using the 15 year old lady in question to blackmail the DSS and divert attention.
Governor Uzodimma said: “The whole thing boils down to propaganda and blackmail targeted at the Security agencies.
“You know I will never allow anything ungodly to happen in Imo State. Their target is to puncture the relative peace the Security agencies have helped us to achieve in Imo State and we are determined to sustain the peace.
“We won’t be deterred and no amount of propaganda and blackmail will deter the Security agencies from doing their work.”
The Governor however urged newsmen to carry out their own investigation into the cases.