The Metropolitan Archbishop of Owerri, Rt. Rev. Lucius Ugorji has called on Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to institute an investigation panel to unravel the circumstances surrounding the recent killing of seven youths in the state.
The Archbishop, who made the call in a press statement in Owerri on Friday, said that the investigation must be transparent.
According to him, the call becomes necessary to unearth the perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to book.
The youths were reportedly killed at Awomama in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo on July 19.
The governor had earlier, in a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, said the victims were bandits, who had engaged security operatives in a gun battle.
Also, the Department of State Security (DSS) claimed that the deceased were members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militia arm of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The DSS also said that they were killed to ensure public security.
The deceased family members also blamed the state government’s security outfit, Ebube-Agu for the death of the youths, claiming they were returning from a wedding ceremony.
Archbishop Ugorji said, “Our aim is not to delve into this web of contradictory narratives but to unequivocally condemn this mindless bloodletting and senseless killings, which have bedeviled Igbo society, especially Imo state in recent times.
“Our soil has been defiled by the abominable shedding of innocent blood.
We are becoming a society that has no regard for the sanctity of human life and are ready to waste human life at the least provocation”.
The Archbishop said that no society could flourish or survive when her future leaders and the productive sector of the population are mercilessly mowed down for mere suspicion.
“Like Abel’s blood in Gen. 4:10, the blood of many slaughtered youths in our land is crying to high heaven. Similarly, like the lamentations of Rachel at Ramah (Gen 30:1), the lamentations of mothers in Awomama, who have lost their beloved ones, are inconsolable.
“As moral agents, no one should clearly aim at taking away human life no matter the circumstances.
“While no one should condone any form of banditry or lawlessness from any quarters, jungle justice and extra-judicial killings cannot be a solution to the challenges of law and order,” he added.
He, however, said that thorough and a transparent investigation into the incident would assuage public anger on the merciless killing and as well stop dangerous rumours.
