Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Residents and citizens of Enugu State are now living in fear following the full return of activities of unknown gunmen.
Ikengaonline reports that in less than one week there have been reports of gunmen unleashing terror on innocent residents with little or no resistance.
Early this week, there were two separate kidnapping incidents on Ugwuogo-Enugu road which had caused panic and fear among motorists and commuters.
Also, within the week over 20 Point of Sale (PoS) operators were attacked at gunpoint at Abakpa Nike, Garki Awkunanaw, New Heaven, and Meniru parts of Enugu city.
In Abakpa, the gunmen stormed the PoS point very close to a popular Liberty Motor park in the day time and shot sporadically into the air and in the panic that ensued they rounded few PoS operators and robbed them.
In the same vein, gunmen also stormed a busy and crowded Garki motor park and began to shoot sporadically. As some of the robbers were shooting, others were robbing PoS operators in the park.
Sources told Ikengaonline that many innocent people sustained bullet wounds while some others were injured while trying to escape from the scene.
Thereafter, soldiers stormed the area which was in front of their barrack’s gate just after the gunmen had left.
The soldiers did patrol around the area but it was of no effect as the boys had disappeared with their loot.
The gunmen later reappeared at Upper Meniru area at about 9: PM shooting into the air while trying to rob the PoS operators in the vicinity.
According to sources, the robbers were frustrated as many PoS operators had locked their protectors after what happened at Garki which is a stone throw away.
Our correspondent also reports that there was alleged attempt by hoodlums to attack one of the petrol stations belonging to Gov. Peter Mbah at New Heaven area.
It was alleged that some unknown persons stormed the filling station, Pinnacle Oil and Gas, shot sporadically and attempted to set the station ablaze but were quickly repelled by security agents.
The situation led to the cordoning off of the area by security operatives on Wednesday.
The insecurity situation has led to palpable fear among residents, who now close their businesses hurriedly before nightfall in some areas, while many PoS operators now lock their protectors and stay inside throughout the day.
A PoS operators at Meniru Awkwunanaw area, Mr Christopher Ugwu, lamented the situation, saying that the development had become scary and urged security operatives to live up to expectation.
“This new development is fearful. These boys carry guns and shoot anyhow and ready to kill anybody on their way.
“Incidentally, they do this without let or hindrance. It is very serious and I call on security operatives to come to our aid,” he said.
Another operator, Miss Ijeoma Onoh, said she lost N400,000 to the gunmen.
“It is a serious matter,” she said.
Meanwhile, Police are yet to comment on the spate of insecurity going on so far in the state.
