Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of all field operations of the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, made the disclosure in a statement issued on Monday night.
The state government has also announced plans to constitute a panel of inquiry to investigate the activities of ENTRACO and other task forces.
The directive follows public outrage over the death of two men on a motorbike, who were killed on Monday along Akachi Road, off Wethedral, by ENTRACO operatives driving recklessly.
It was learned that the men were travelling home when the operatives, engaged in enforcement operations, drove at high speed and lost control, resulting in a fatal collision.
The incident sparked anger among residents, who demanded immediate action and accountability from the State government and ENTRACO management.
According to the statement, Uzodimma has directed the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, to arrest and prosecute anyone operating under the name or guise of ENTRACO, as well as members of any other task force found harassing or intimidating Imo citizens.
He warned that anyone operating in the name of the commission or any task force, in any form or manner, would be liable for criminal conduct and punished to the full extent of the law.
The governor further ordered a comprehensive investigation into the activities of ENTRACO and related task forces, stressing that all those found culpable would face the full wrath of the law, regardless of rank or position.
He called on Imo residents with evidence of any unlawful actions by ENTRACO operatives or their agents to come forward to the police or members of the investigative panel, whose composition will be announced soon.
The statement read in part, “Henceforth, any person or group of persons operating in the name or guise of ENTRACO or any task force in any form or manner shall be liable for criminal conduct and visited with the full weight of the law.
“Accordingly, His Excellency has directed the Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute with precision anyone seen operating under the name or guise of ENTRACO, as well as members of any other task force found harassing or intimidating Imo citizens.
“In addition, His Excellency has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the activities of ENTRACO and related task forces. Those found culpable will face the full wrath of the law, regardless of who is involved.
“The government encourages Imo people with evidence of any breach of the law by the operatives of ENTRACO and their agents to come forward to the police and members of the investigative panel, whose composition will be announced soon.”
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