Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo says his government will treat gun-wielding groups that choose to stay in forests rather than accept its amnesty offer, as criminal gangs.
Soludo was speaking on Friday when he visited the Aguata Local Government Secretariat, Ekwulobia, which was attacked and burned down on Thursday by gunmen.
He described the incident as mindless criminality. He also disclosed that a team of security forces earlier destroyed a camp of hoodlums between Aguluezechukwu and Ogboji communities.
It was the fleeing gang that attacked the council secretariat.
“It was from this camp that they continued to operate unhindered for the past two years, killing, maiming, raping, and doing all manner of things.
“As they were fleeing cowardly they set the local government ablaze but the security agents also smoked them out from here,” Soludo said.
The attackers invaded the area at about 2 pm, shooting sporadically, and causing workers to run for their lives. That was before they set the building and many vehicles within its premises on fire.
The gunmen are also believed to be behind the attack on a cattle market in Igbo-ukwu Community the same day. Dozens of cattle were reportedly killed.
Governor Soludo was accompanied on the visit by the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, and the Commissioner-Designate for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Tony Collins Nwabunwanne.
He revealed the items seized from the camp of the arsonists.
“The items recovered include a register of people they kidnapped, how much they paid as ransom, the balance remaining, the vehicles stolen, and the transactions.
“They had even taken delivery of food items with all kinds of shrines and stuff.
“So, it is obvious that this is not who we are, they are just common criminals,” he said.
Soludo noted that his government has extended an olive branch to all those in the bush to come out and surrender their guns so they can be rehabilitated.
Anyone who refuses to take the option will be treated as a criminal.
