The Imo State Police Command on Tuesday announced the commencement of an investigation into a threatening poster allegedly pasted by suspected herdsmen in the Umuoba Community, Irete, Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.
The tension in the community heightened after residents discovered the poster at the entrance of the area on Monday. The message read: ‘Fulani herdsmen, we are coming. Wait for us at any time, at any moment now’.
The unsettling message prompted some residents to temporarily flee the community, while those who remained expressed fear and organized neighborhood surveillance efforts.
However, the police’s preliminary investigation suggests that the poster was intended to incite fear and create unrest.
In a statement on Tuesday in Owerri, the state capital, the state Police Public Relations Officer: Assistant Superintendent Henry Okoye said: ‘Preliminary investigations have revealed that this message is a calculated attempt by certain elements to incite unnecessary fear and apprehension among the public and destabilize the peace and security currently enjoyed in Imo State’.
The command assured the public that a comprehensive investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible for the threat.
The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma reassured residents of Irete that there was no cause for alarm. He confirmed that the Divisional Police Officer, in collaboration with local vigilantes, had visited the community to assess the situation and engage with residents to reinforce security measures.
‘Citizens are encouraged to continue their lawful activities without fear, as the Police, in synergy with other security agencies and local vigilantes, are working harmoniously to safeguard the security and well-being of everyone in Imo State’, the statement read.
The command urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the emergency lines: 0803 477 3600 and 0814 802 4755.
‘The safety and security of Imo State residents remain the Command’s top priority’, Okoye further said.
