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By Stanley Uzoaro, Owerri
Two people were reportedly killed at dawn today when gunmen stormed Ezinifite village in Ezinifite Local Government Area of Imo State in search of youths believed to be mobilising to resist hoodlums who were forcing the people to sit at home every Monday.
The peace of the rusty community was shattered when the gunmen allegedly stormed the area in search of youths who earlier had an encounter with them days before.
While the incident lasted, the gunmen ransacked homes, spread fears and then killed two.
According to a source who didn’t want to be named, the gunmen – some of whom were dressed in regular Nigeria Police gear, killed two youths identified as Kelechi Ikeme and Michael Obi.
“I saw some of the gunmen wearing red scarf, and police uniform numbering over a dozen as they prowled; they arrived in the village in two Toyota Hilux vans, and started shooting sporadically to scare away the residents.
“One of them who appeared to be their leader intermittently spoke in Hausa language.
“Some of them chanted in pigeon English: ‘Flush them out; flush out the idiots.”
“As they passed my house, one of them breathed out: ‘Since they won’t allow us, the blood of their young ones will fertilise this soil. Their blood will flow.’”
According to another source, the gunmen went door-to-door searching for the youths. But most of their target had fled.
He recalled that: “The two youths who lost their lives lived on the edge of the road leading into the village. They were the first to encounter the gunmen; they were not as lucky.
“It was obvious that they came to kill the youths who have been resisting the enforcement of this Monday sit-at-home which has cost South East residents lots of fortune.”
Our correspondent gathered that the youths of the community led by one Ukaoma, Preciousgrant Onyedikachi, their secretary, Obinna Abua, and one Longinus Okere among others, had earlier had skirmishes with the enforcers of the last sit-at-home exercise on Monday May 8.
The youths, it was learnt, had been mobilising the residents and people in other villages to ensure that the people were allowed to go about their normal day-to-day activities without any hindrance.
“But for Providence, one or two of the youths could have lost their lives as one of the enforcers was said to have fired at them, but missed his target.
“I’m not surprised that the enforcers who came to the village on that fateful day while on their way to Oboma market, reported their encounter to their authority.”
Another source who simply identified himself as Onyema because of the sensitive nature of the issue, said his father saw the gunmen storming the youth leader, Onyedikachi, and Okeke’s house just 100m apart at about 6: 15 am, howling ‘where are they; where are they!’ ‘Their blood will soon flow!’
“Before they left, they went from house to house, ransacking everywhere and harassing the women and the aged.
“When they arrived at Chief Ugwumba’s house, they fired and killed his dog which kept barking at them; funny enough, they also killed some of his livestock.
“Now, what transpired leaves us with the impression that the gun men were working with some members of our village. Otherwise, how would strangers be particular about some of our youths?”
Then he added: “We are no longer safe. We are facing terrible times. We – particularly our youths – are now endangered.”
Meanwhile, the community has been deserted as everyone was said to have fled, fearing that the gunmen might stage a return soon, but no one knows when exactly.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Imo State Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the story. He admitted that he had heard about the incident, but was waiting for details from Ezinifite Divisional Police Officer.
He promised to get back to the reporter, but could not do so before this report was filed.
