In an effort to ensure that the gov­ernment flushes out remnants of criminal activities in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area and en­hance the safety and security of the people, the Enugu State gov­ernor, Dr. Peter Mbah, on Monday, launched a series of coordinated onslaughts against assailants and criminal elements, which led to se­curity operatives arresting scores of suspects bearing dangerous weapons in some of the forests in the area.

The Independent reported that the governor, who warned against self-help by some com­munity members, said anybody or group of persons inciting and encouraging self-help would be dealt with according to the extant laws of the land, insisting that his administration would not condone people taking the laws into their hands as that falls short of all known civilised and legal norms.

While suing for peace among the Adani, Igga and other neigh­bouring communities in the coun­cil area who have been engaging on reprisal attacks over commu­nal land disputes, Governor Mbah, during an unscheduled visit to both Adani and Igga communi­ties in Uzo Uwani LGA on Sun­day evening, announced that his administration had already offered scholarships and job opportunities to the children and wives of the two slain police officers and three Neighbourhood Watch operatives who lost their lives in an ambush on Friday at Ada Rice farm set­tlement by suspected criminals engaged by Igga community to carry attacks on innocent civilian population.

He said security of lives and property remained the top prior­ity of his administration, while vowing that the ongoing opera­tions, involving combined teams of security operatives, including the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and members of the Neighbourhood Watch groups, would continue until the area is completely rid of criminal elements, warning those responsible for the heinous crimes to submit themselves or face the full wrath of the law.

“One thing I can assure you today is that we’ll apprehend all the criminals responsible for this attack. We’ll make sure they face the full wrath of the law as we’ll not spare anyone involved in the crime,” he said.

Governor Mbah, who also visit­ed the Ada Rice Settlement, further warned the communities against taking the laws into their hands, saying grievances and challenges must be channeled to the consti­tuted authorities for amicable resolution.

“It is unwise for you to be en­couraging your people to take the law into their hands by killing people, including the security op­eratives. There are processes for re­solving issues. If your people have any grievance, it’s for you to take it to the government. My office is always open for the people. If there is anything we need to do just to be sure that you’re all protected, we’ll do it because that is our primary duty as a government and that’s why we exist,” the governor added.

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