Miyetti Allah Vigilante Fighting Crime? Southeast Govt Opens up on Alleged OperationYour support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Owerri, Imo - Reports that Miyetti Allah vigilante arrived in Imo state to help security agencies fight crime has been denied by the Imo state government. Nigerian Tribune reports that the commissioner for information, Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba dissociated the state from what he called a fabricated story. Emelumba in a statement issued in Owerri, on Tuesday, January 18, stated that the government did not at any time give any approval to the vigilante to operate in Imo. Read also Rice pyramid: Shehu Sani lists 2 failed projects of President Buhari He blamed the opposition who, according to him, were behind the story with the aim to cause ethnic tension in the southeast state, Sahara Reporters added. PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates! While urging the people to disregard the story, the commissioner said residents would be informed of any security arrangements. He said: In a previous report by Legit.ng, a former Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Lawman Duruji, has been kidnapped. Duruji was kidnapped at Oriagu in Ehime Mbano local government area on Saturday, January 8 while returning from a function. Read also Breaking: Petrol station on fire in Ibadan, people scamper for safety Also kidnapped is a businessman in Owerri, the Imo state capital, popularly known as Ezzybee. Ezzybee was said to have been kidnapped on Sunday, January 9 while on the way to watch a local football match. Governor Uzodimma had earlier advocated for a renewed and collective effort by the people of Imo to stamp out violence and other forms of criminality in the state this year. In his new year message to the people of the state, Uzodimma pledged that his administration will work in concert with the security agencies to ensure a safer Imo in 2022 and beyond. He also pledged that his administration will this year redouble efforts to redress the infrastructural deficit it met on assumption of office. Source: Legit.ng The Imo state government has reacted to reports that it contracted Miyetti Allah vigilantes to help security agencies fight crime Declan Mbadiwe Emelumba, the commissioner for information in a statement on Tuesday, January 18, denied the claims Emelumba, noted that the group was not given any approval by the government to operate in the southeast state Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Owerri, Imo Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates! Legit.ng “This is to alert Imo people that there is no truth in the story being circulated by the opposition which has become more desperate. The Government is not aware of any Miyetti Allah vigilante.”