Having battled the spate of killings by the security operatives and the state governments, one would have expected that the level of deaths would have been reduced.
The South East zone experienced high level of deaths in 2021, which saw the renewed efforts of security operatives and state governments addressing the reoccurrence, with creation of Ebubeagu to compliment the work of the security operatives, despite all of those, the killings still continue, especially that one had expected that the citizens would heaved sigh of relief.
Very recently, in less than three weeks, the killings and deaths have resurfaced almost on daily basis. There is no day that passed without news of killing/death by gunmen and/or from community tussles that have escalated to killings of people.
In Enugu, it was reported that gunmen killed five policemen. This is less than 48 hours after three policemen were murdered by gunmen in Enugu, the hoodlums struck again at Amodo in Enugu South local government area, killing five policemen.
Sources said the hoodlums stormed the police checkpoint at Amodo with two Seinna vehicles and shot sporadically for several minutes before killing the policemen. An eye witness said the hoodlums who were armed with sophisticated weapons had a field day as there was no resistance from the policemen.
Recalled that gunmen had in less than two days before then, killed three policemen and a popular leader of the vigilante group known as Jango. They killed the policemen along Timber Road, Independence Layout Enugu and kidnapped a woman and her driver.
In Imo, just last week, the Imo State Police Command Police confirmed killing of seven persons in Mmahu community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state in an alleged cult related attack.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Micheal Abattam, gave the confirmation in a statement issued in Owerri. Abattam said the attack occurred at about 2200 hours, when one “Ossy,” led about 20 armed men with their faces masked to Mmahu community.
The police spokesman said that Ossy and his men went to the houses of Charles Mgbarahor, Funky Anane, Charity Nwachukwu, Edeme Okoro, Isaac Ojenya, Ndubuisi Nwabusi and Junior Ifeyinwoke, shot and killed them.
He said, “On receipt of this information immediately, the Divisional Police Officer mobilized his men and other patrol teams to the area, on arrival at the scene, the hoodlums have deserted the place, leaving seven persons dead.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the killing has elements of cultism. And that “Ossy” is an escapee from Imo Correctional Centre Owerri who is reasonably suspected to belong to a cult group known as “De-Gbam”. While the persons killed are suspected to belong to another cult group known as De-Well.”
He disclosed that the command has deployed additional tactical units to the community to support the operation of the Egbema Police Division and Area Command to forestall a reprisal attack.
The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, while calling for calm in the community, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID) to immediately commence a discreet investigation with a mandate to fish out the perpetrators behind the dastardly act.
Abia state is not left out of the killings, as residents of Owaza and Obibor communities in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State deserted their villages after gunmen killed two soldiers in the area. The gunmen after killing the soldiers also carted away their arms. It was also learnt that the gunmen burnt the soldiers’ patrol vehicles. The soldiers were reportedly killed between Owaza and Obibor communities respectively.
It was gathered that the incident forced most residents and indigenes of the two communities to leave to avoid possible reprisal by the military.
A military source, who did not want to be named, confirmed the death of the soldiers. The source disclosed the soldiers were killed around 4am at their duty posts. “Investigation into the matter is ongoing.
The members of the communities that are leaving their villages do not have any need to do so because we are not going after innocent civilians who are going about their businesses. “The people who committed the act are no longer there. So, what’s the need arresting innocent people? “We have commenced investigation and will soon get to the roots of the matter,” the military source said.
The governor of the state, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who called for calm in the affected communities, expressed grave concerns about the reported attacks in Owaza by soldiers of the Nigerian Army 14 Brigade.
Ebonyi has received its share of the killings as it was reported that suspected herdsmen killed three men in Ebonyi state. The tragedy happened in Amaeze, Ishiagu community, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. It was gathered that the victims were attacked and killed on a farmland at the border between Amaeze and Lokpa community on Sunday evening, January 9, 2022.
One of the victims has been identified as Comrade Anthony Orji, the Emeritus President of Federated Union Of Amaeze Graduates and Undergraduates (FUAGU). Mr. Monday Okorie, chairman of Amaeze Community Development Union, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abakiliki. Okorie said women who went to the farm and discovered the bodies of the deceased broke the news about the gruesome murder of the indigenes. Okorie said that two of the deceased were from Amaeze while the third victim was an indigene of Ihietutu community resident in Amaeze.
A top police officer serving at the Ivo Division of the Nigeria Police, who doesn’t want his name on print, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
“We got a distress call from the chairman of Amaeze community about the discovery of three fresh dead bodies at farmland at a border between Amaeze and Lokpa community,” the officer stated.
In Anambra, suspected gunmen killed three persons at Nnobi in Idemili South local government area of Anambra State. Anambra may not have gotten greater percent of killings caused by gunmen attack but it had several deaths caused by accidents. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Anambra State had said that it recorded 23 deaths from 33 road crashes between December 17, 2021 and January 15. This was according to the Sector Commander, Adeoye Irelewuyi.
