The Ebonyi State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of two persons whose identities were not disclosed for allegedly vandalizing machines procured for the construction of international airport by the state government.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Awotunde Awosola, who spoke to journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital through the Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, said the two suspects hailed from Amauzu community in Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
In a swift reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on the airport project, Hon. Joseph Nwobasi, noted with regret that unknown persons had broken the glasses of some of the machines with stones.
According to Nwobasi, the machines were kept under the custody of some residents of Amuzu community, but when they could not explain how the damage came about, two persons were arrested.
He said that the project, when completed, will provide job opportunities for the people of the area and attract investors into the state.
“The airport project is realizable in the sense that the drawing and clearing is ongoing. As I’m talking, the bulldozers are in the site. It is not a paper work. It is a feasible project. The land for it is a vast one and the location is part of Ezza south and Ezza North local government areas. But the largest part of the airport land is in Ezza north.
“Actually, there was a protest sometime ago, but after that we called a meeting of the traditional rulers in Ezza land. The traditional rulers disowned whoever was involved in that protest. So, for now, there is no problem. On daily basis, I visit the site with the surveyors and enumerators. So, we have laid the issue of protest to rest.
“Ebonyians will gain a lot from the international airport. It is going to put Ebonyi name on world map. It is going to engender rapid development in the state and attract foreign investors from far and near.
“What happened was that in the compound where the machines for work were parked, unknown persons went there and used stones to break the glasses. So, when the operators got there yesterday morning, they called me and I immediately rushed to the site to see for myself.
“When I got there, I went to the people in the compound because the day we parked the bulldozers, we went to the people that own the compound and negotiated with them to take care of the machines, so, I have to call them to inquire who did that, they all denied. What I did was to alert the area command at Onueke and got two persons arrested.
“As I am talking, investigation is on; even the local government chairman has been contacted. So, all hands are on deck to make sure that the perpetrators are arrested. The process of compensating the owners of the land is ongoing. The enumeration has been concluded which is one step. The next level, I think will be to compensate those affected. But you should know that development cannot take place in the air, but on the land”, he stated.
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