• As kidnapping, robbery return to Enugu-Opi Road
From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
There is palpable tension in Enugu over a recent spike in criminal activities including kidnapping, attacks on public infrastructure and security operatives in Enugu metropolis.
Similar incidents also occurred in some communities in the state.
Yesterday, masked gunmen numbering over 30 attacked and killed a security operative identified as Onyebu Idoko, working with the Central Neighbourhood Watch in Igboeze North Local Government Area; he was on his way to work when the incident happened.
According to a source, the hoodlums operated freely despite the presence of military and police formations the area.
He said: “It was a terrible situation. The shock is too much for me. We saw them marching with guns and ordering people to clear the road until the neighbourhood watch member ran into them.
“They ordered the man who was riding on his motorcycle to alight and leave the arena; then they shot him severally. His blood was flowing like water on the road,” he said.
Last Thursday, some commuters traveling from Enugu town to Nsukka were kidnapped by hoodlums terrorising Enugu-Ugwogo-Opi road users.
The source confirmed that the hoodlums attacked commuters on three separate occasions that fateful day. He said while the first attack occurred at Noon, the second attack took place at about 2pm, while the third group of commuters were kidnapped at about 5pm.
He recalled that several other commuters were attacked and kidnapped on Wednesday by the same band of kidnappers, even when there were numerous military and police checkpoints along the road.
It would be recalled that there has been a spike in the activities of criminals who use tricycles and mini-buses to rob and
dispossess unsuspecting residents of their properties including phones and other
valuables.
Lately, a final-year student of the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) who boarded a mini-bus on his way to school was kidnapped. A huge ransom was reportedly paid for his release.
There have also been many cases of attacks on Point-of-Sale (POS) operators lately.
Last Thursday, many POS operators were attacked along Gariki and Menuri areas in Enugu South Local Government Area of
the state.
A witness said that the robbers attacked the unsuspecting operators and succeeded in dispossessing them of their cash.
A POS operator was also attacked at Texaco Junction, Abakpa, Enugu East, by some hoodlums who released gunshots into the air as they escaped.
It was undoubtedly a harvest of attacks as some passers-by were last Wednesday, attacked by robbers around 6pm on Ogui Road, close to Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.
On Tuesday, June 20, Pinnacle Oil and
Gas, a petrol station belonging to the state governor, Peter Mbah, was allegedly
attacked by some hoodlums. Despite denials by officials of the state government, residents of the area confirmed the attack.
They said the gunmen who rode in tricycles released gunshots while attempting to set the petrol station on fire. Security operatives were said to have arrived at the scene and foiled the attempt.
Sunday Sun gathered that security had been beefed up particularly within the Enugu metropolis.
Police operatives, soldiers, secret services personnel were drafted to the area while fully armed plain-clothe security operatives, operated with unbranded vehicles within the town.
“It was terrible last night; we all ran away, leaving everything, even the meat in my restaurant was scattered, drinks poured away as no one was thinking about those things anymore; we just wanted to be alive.
“Those guys came in two tricycles and entered the filling station as they were still selling fuel around 8.30 pm, and started shooting. I feel they did not want to kill anybody. They took one of the fuel nozzles and released fuel on the ground and put fire on it. They continued shooting and later left in their Keke.”
The source recalled that it was after the attackers had fled that they returned to their shops, adding that the fire was put out before “the police and army started
arriving.”