Imo state Residents, traders runs for safety

The sit-at-home order in Owerri, Imo State capital, on Monday, took a different dimension as residents and traders, out of fear of attack by suspected gunmen, runs for their safety.

The incident came with so much nervousness among commercial bus drivers and residents of the state, who had managed to come out to buy few items in the market, as they quickly abandoned their shopping and picked a no destination race.

The news of the attack came when some markets, such as Ekeukwu Owerri, Relief Market, and others, which were opened for business, closed down.

Also traders in the streets of Owerri, Ekeukwu and its sub-markets abandoned their goods, while others closed their shops and runs for their safety.

Most people got wounded during the process of trying to secure their safety, while all effort made to reach the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abatham, as at the time of filing

this report, failed, as his mobile phone line could not be reached.

MEANWHILE, at least two persons, allegedly enforcing yesterday’s sit-at-home order in Anambra, have been killed during a gun battle with police operatives.

Many Goods were also destroyed during the turmoil.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Awka and made available to newsmen.

Ikenga stated that the incident occured in Umunze, the headquarters of Orumba South Local Council of the state.

He explained that trouble started when “the hoodlums” started obstructing the movement of road users, who were going about their lawful businesses.

He added that the deceased forcefully collected motorcycles and tricycles from their operators, chased the passengers away and set the machines on fire .

He said: “The operatives on crime prevention patrol on Umunze Road, in the early hours of yesterday, May 16, engaged armed gunmen, allegedly, enforcing the sit-at-home order in the state.

“The operatives neutralised two of the miscreants and recovered a white Toyota Hiace bus with no registration number.”

According to him, the command has intensified surveillance within the state to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some miscreants have been going about in major towns of the state molesting law-abiding citizens under the guise of enforcing the sit-at-home order.

The proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), which, initially issued the order in the South-East, had long issued a counter directive, limiting it to days its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, would appear in court.