Residents lament invasion of communities, churches by security agents

Residents of Imo State, especially those in Owerri and Orlu metropolis have decried security agents invasion of their communities and churches in search of members of the banned Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

The residents said that such raids had always ended in destruction, loss of lives and indiscriminate arrest of citizens.

Security agents had on Wednesday invaded the Life Sabbath Synagogue in Amii village in Akabo community, Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state and arrested the resident pastor, Ikechukwu Umaefulem.

The operatives also burnt down the church and a residential house in the village and arrested other people.

The wife of the pastor at Amii, Mrs Oluchi Umaefulem and his cousin, Ikechukwu Azuatalam, said the building was destroyed by the security agents who went there with several Hilux vehicles  and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC).

According to them, residents of the community were afraid to go about their normal businesses.

The Amii village incident came on the heels of last Sunday’s invasion of Okporo community in Orlu local government, where security operatives stormed Daymond Hotel in Okporo.

This also followed the closure of Orlu Building Materials and Timber market by soldiers, who were apparently in search of members of IPOB.

The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, and the spokesman of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Capt. Babatunde Zubairu, declined comments.