The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has expressed sadness over the killing of 14 innocent youths who attended a traditional marriage in Awo – Ommama, Oru East Local Government Area, Imo.
It was learnt that there had been outrage in the Southeast over the alleged killing of wedding guests by the state’s security outfit, Ebubeagu, on Sunday.
According to a statement issued by the coalition’s President General, Goodluck Ibem, the groom and 9 people who accompanied him to the traditional marriage were killed in the attack, and the other 5 victims were from the Awo Ommamma community in the state’s Oru East Local Government Area.
It was gathered that 32 persons who were also victims of the attack are currently in a critical condition in the hospital.
The coalition alleged that “Ebubeagu Operatives, a security outfit formed by Governor Hope Uzodinma is on an evil mission to kill all Imo youths in the state who he believes will challenge his re-election as governor come 2023.
“The unlawful killings going on in Imo State is unacceptable, wicked, barbaric, villainous, senseless and we condemn it in its entirety.
“Democracy has totally collapsed in Imo State and we demand that the spate of senseless killings must stop forthwith.
“We, therefore, call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba to quickly without any hesitation arrest and prosecute those Ebubeagu operatives who committed such wicked atrocity against humanity.
“We will not accept the unlawful killing of those 14 innocent youths, Governor Hope Uzodinma must resign within 7 days.
“He must resign from office as governor of Imo State or be Impeached by Imo State House of Assembly else the youths will occupy the roads in protest to demand for his resignation.
“What we are seeing in Imo is no longer democracy but tyranny taken too far”.
