Abia State Governor, Alex Otti has said that parts of Isuikwuato and Umunnochi local government areas of the state were under the control of criminal elements before the coming of his administration.
This is as he disclosed that more than N40 billion has been spent by his administration in payment of arrears of salaries and pensions.
Otti who stated this at Umuahia Township Stadium on Thursday during the celebration of his second year in office, said indigenes of the the invaded communities fled their homes while those residing in the cities were afraid to return home.
Otti while recalling the achievements of his administration in the past two years, said that the Operation Crush combined security team he established has been able to sack the bandits from the two LGAs, thereby liberating the people and their lands.
Otti commended the efforts of the Nigerian Army, the police and other security agencies for ensuring that Abia State is well secured, promising to maintain his administration’s logistics support to the security agencies.
While thanking Abia people for their support for his administration, Otti expressed joy that Abia which was known as one of the dirtiest states in Nigeria has now been cleaned up, urging the residents to maintain the new culture of cleanliness.
He further announced that many projects completed by his administration are to be commissioned for use from June2025.
