The rusty relationship between former Imo State governor and current Senator, Rochas Okorocha, and the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodinma, has fallen to a new low as both trade tackles over the arrest of Uche Nwosu, Okorocha’s son-in-law and the 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance in the state.
Okorocha has accused Uzodinma of being responsible for the arrest of Nwosu on Sunday during a church service in the latter’s village at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama-Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.
The commando-like arrest, shown in a video that has since gone viral, was initially reported by those present in church as a kidnap, as the team that came to arrest Nwosu fired several rounds of gunshots as they dragged their target out of the church service into a waiting vehicle.
The narrative about Nwosu’s abduction only changed when the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Micheal Abattam, confirmed that the politician was actually arrested.
The arrest came on a day Nwosu was holding an outing service for his late mother, Jemamah Nwosu, who was buried four days earlier. So it was not an ordinary church service but one attended by Nwosu’s family and friends, including Okorocha’s family members.
In the video, a woman is seen being violently pushed down by one of the security agent as they bundle Nwosu into their vehicle.
Reacting to the incident, Okorocha declared that “Hope Uzodimma deceived Abuja for the arrest of Uche Nwosu. Hope Uzodinma is 1,000 per cent responsible for the arrest. It is either Uzodinma is the IGP (Inspector-General of Police) or the governor of Imo State,” in his speech to journalists in his Owerri residence.
Continuing, Okorocha said: “My wife was pushed down and my daughter’s clothes were torn into pieces by the policemen who came into the church to arrest Uche Nwosu with no warrant of arrest.
“I want to know the offence my son-in-law has committed that they rough handled him because I’m yet to be informed. I have called the Inspector General of Police. His number was switched off. I have called the Commissioner of Police (Hussaini Rabiu). He said the order came from above.
“Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church for an outing service, when a group of men in police uniform while the sermon was ongoing, started shooting. In the course of their activities, they pushed down my wife and they tore my daughter’s clothes.
“No warrant of arrest. No invitation. We suspected kidnapping at first. Many people were injured while running. Uche Nwosu was dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government plate number.
“They were identified as policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial. I got the CP who said that IGP approved his arrest.
“The shock of such arrest without warrant and humiliating members of my family are unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo State know nothing about the arrest. I don’t know what they framed up. The IGP could only do this on high-level misinformation from Hope Uzodinma.
“Over one hundred gunshots to arrest Uche Nwosu? What kind of ruthless behavior on innocent citizens of Nigeria?
“Hope Uzodimma has shown tremendous heat to me and members of my family. Lawmakers who attended the burial were suspended. I am waiting to hear the offence of Uche Nwosu. Recall that Hope Uzodinma said he is going to name sponsors of insecurity in Imo state on January 3.
“I know he has nothing other than to cook up a story. Last time, he ordered my arrest and one security officer ordered me to enter the pick-up vehicle.
“Uzodimma wants to frame me up by all means. Uzodinma has to answer for most of the activities going on. Uzodinma must mention the names of those who are responsible for insecurity in Imo State or he should be held responsible for all the killings in the state.
“Uzodimma has framed up something against Uche Nwosu. Buhari should be informed about what is happening in Imo state. Hundreds of citizens are been killed in this state.
“How come it is only Abuja and Imo State government House that know about the arrest. I want to know the reason for the attack on a church and, why Uche Nwosu should be treated like a criminal.
But the Imo State government has distanced itself from Nwosu’s travails, saying it has no hand in the saga.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, the government declared that the Nwosu’s arrest was done by the Police only.
Below is the government’s statement:
“Now that the Imo State Police command has confirmed that Uche Nwosu was arrested by its operatives this morning, It is hoped that those that have been circulating the mischievous propaganda in the social media that he was abducted by gunmen or that government was behind his ordeal, will apologise for their unfounded and inciting broadcasts. The statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Micheal Abattam, confirming Nwosu’s arrest should be instructive.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to shun any further attempt by mischief makers who are desperate to politicise Nwosu’s arrest. Nobody is above the law. If Uche Nwosu has run foul of the law, he should be held accountable. It is expected that the police will soon give more details on his arrest so that the public will be better guided.
“It is also hoped that the police statement has put to rest the malicious and baseless rumours claiming that the said Nwosu was abducted by government security operatives,” the statement added
