The Abia State Governor Alex Otti has promised to find the perpetrators of the attack on the convoy of the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu.
He made this statement on Thursday while visiting the Ariaria International Market in Aba, the scene of the incident that resulted in the deaths of two people.
โItโs unfortunate that some criminals attacked policemen here two days ago, and in response, there was a reprisal attack,โ Ottiโs media aide Kazie quoted him as saying.
โUnfortunately, reprisal attacks as I have often said always end up with the wrong people because the criminals would probably have run away. We must track down the criminals.โ
Traders and residents had in the wake of the incident kept away from the vicinity until Otti visited.
But while addressing the traders, Otti assured them of safety and security.
โHaving noticed that you closed your shops in fear, I have come to reassure you that you shouldnโt fear. Please open your shops,โ he said.
โAny security man you see, whether police, army, DSS or civil defence, they have come to give you protection not to attack you. So, we will continue in the search for the criminals because we will not allow criminals to distract us.
โWe have a lot of work that weโre doing already and no criminal would be stronger than the government, we will track them down. We will also use this opportunity to warn anyone that wants to get involved in criminal activities. Weโre going to deal with them, we will flush them out.
โSo, go about your lawful business, open your shops, youโll be protected and no one will molest you.โ