Condemn senseless killings in Rivers, Sen Uchendu tells religious leaders

Senator Andrew Uchendu has called on traditional and religious leaders to condemn Rivers killings

The Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ohna Andrew Uchendu, OON, has called on religious and traditional leaders to join in the condemnation of the senseless and continued killings in Rivers State.

Senator Uchendu, who was reacting to the recent killings of about seventeen persons in Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, on January 1, 2018 and about seven persons in Egbeda community in Emohua Local Government Area.

He also reacted to killings by unknown gunmen yesterday.

He said the Rivers State Governor had wailed enough, hence he believes that spiritual and traditional leaders should join him in crying and pleading with these killers to have a change of mind and desist from killing innocent Rivers people.

He said: “The recent killings of about seventeen and seven persons including children in Omoku and Egbeda communities, which unfortunately appears as a ‘new year gift’ to Rivers people, is a sad commentary that must be condemned by all well meaning people.

“It is now clear that the political leadership in Rivers State has woefully failed in coming up with an all-embracing security architecture that would have reduced these mindless bloodlettings in the state.

“I am therefore calling on religious and traditional leaders to cry along with Governor Nyesom Wike, who has cried for too long, and possibly, these agents of darkness might heed their wailings and stop the escalating bloodshed in the land.

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Senator Uchendu, who is the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Procurement, stressed the need for the Wike-led govermment to shun sentiments and bring to a halt the raging menace of cultism in the state.

“What has happened in both Omoku and Egbeda, is a clear confirmation of what some of us have been saying that the over-hyped state amnesty programme was merely a facade.

“The Wike-led govermment cannot at one hand wail and condemn the killings of Rivers people by cultists, and in another breath, pretend not to know that it is as a result of the haphazard, not well-thought-out amnesty programme.

“My Ikwerre people have a common saying that “the hen at all times must follow ant-infested firewood”.

“The Wike-led government cannot absolve itself from blame in the incessant killings of harmless and defenceless citizens of Rivers State, until it stoutly rises up to its sole responsibility of protecting lives and properties, and that it can do in this situation, by swiftly nipping cultism in the bud, no matter whose ox is gored. May God help us,” he said.

Senator Uchendu also advised any individual or group in the state with grievances of any kind, to direct such to the appropriate quarters, instead of resorting to self help.