The Ebonyi State commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor, has called on the former spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State, Mr Joe Igbokwe to apologise to the people of Ebonyi State over what he described as negative profiling of Ebonyi State and its people.

In a statement, Mr Okpor expressed sadness over a post credited to Mr Igbokwe on the attack by suspected ESN/IPOB members in Okigwe, Imo State.

He said, “Mr Joe Igbokwe, you have to retract and apologise for your deliberate negative profiling of Ebonyi State and its citizens. How can you turn a victim to a villain? The alleged ESN/IPOB attack you reported to have happened in Ebonyi State actually took place in Okigwe.

“You can’t stain our enviable record as the most peaceful and secured state in the Southeast and the country at large. It took His Excellency, Francis Nwifuru a great deal of effort to achieve.

“This unprovoked attacks on our corporate identity must stop. I call on every Ebonyian and indeed all men and women of goodwill to call out Mr Igbokwe.”

Meanwhile, the chairman of Ivo local government area of the state, Chief Emmanuel Ajah has condemned the attack and burning of several heavy-duty trucks belonging to indigenes of Echiele, Ishiagu in Ivo LGA along the express road by suspected ESN/IPOB members.

Mr Ajah noted that residents of Echiele woke up to witness the devastating arson that not only destroyed property but also endangered lives, shattering the very fabric of trust that binds together Igbo people.

He noted that the unwarranted act of destruction of numerous heavy-duty trucks must be condemned from every corner of the society, “especially when it comes from a brother against his fellow brother, driven by provocations from outsiders.”