Orlu: Why we invited soldiers to arrest some church leaders, Governor Uzodinma speaks
- Governor Hope Uzodinma has finally broken silence on the arrest of some church leaders in Orlu by soldiers
- The governor said the military personnel were invited by the government because the arrested clerics were protecting the activities of IPOB
- According to the governor, IPOB, a proscribed group led by fugitive Nnamdi Kanu, is perpetrating atrocities using white garments
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Imo state government has finally lifted the lids on the arrest of some church leaders following a military invasion of Orlu community by the Nigerian Army operatives.
In a statement on Sunday, February 21, the Imo state commissioner for justice, Barr Cyprain Akaolisa, said some religious leaders of Cherubim and Seraphim and Sabbath Missions were arrested for helping proscribed group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Akaolisa further explained that the members of the Nnamdi Kanu-led group were perpetrating crimes in Orlu using the white garment churches as cover for their activities.
Source: Facebook
It would be recalled that soldiers were seen in Orlu on Thursday, February 18, with military choppers flying in what created a scene of fear and pandemonium.
Residents said the army bombed some places, resulting in the death of innocent citizens of the community.
Some people including clerics have since been arrested on the order of the Imo state government.
Akaolisa, who is also the attorney general of Imo state, said over 30 clerics were arrested by security forces battling IPOB members in Orlu.
According to him, the arrested cleric harboured hoodlums against whom the military operation in Orlu was initiated, The Nation reports.
"If you investigate the activities of some of these churches, you will understand that over time, hoodlums establish and use such churches as front for their nefarious activities.
“We have records that armed robbers have been hanging out as pastors; in the night they will go for their operations but in the day they wear their garments and use such white garment churches.”
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Meanwhile, in his position as the chairman of the Southwest Governors' Forum (SWGF), Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has dabbled into the mounting ethnic tension in Shasha community of Ibadan, Oyo state.
In a statement on Sunday, February 14, Governor Akeredou maintained that all hands must be on deck, warning that actions stoking ethnic tension in the southwest will not be condoned by the government.
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Rahaman Abiola is a result-oriented journalist and content writer with a firm grip of over 5-year corporate experience stranding diverse roles in digital & traditional media and social media communication.
A published literary writer, freelancer and public commentator, he has written over 100 essays covering diverse issues on economy, politics and current affairs, entertainment and leadership published in virtually all notable Nigerian national dailies and digital media in Nigeria.
He is a graduate of English Literature, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Follow him on Twitter via @ShugabanR.
Source: Legit.ng
