Headlines
South-East Crisis: 175 Soldiers, Cops, Others Killed In 72 Attacks
No fewer than 175 individuals, together with troopers, police and civilians, have misplaced their lives within the South-East inside the final six months as a result of insecurity that has engulfed the troubled area, investigations by Sunday PUNCH revealed.
Our correspondents gathered that the killings happened in 72 assaults by hoodlums throughout the 5 states within the area, particularly Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia.
Violence, killings and arson assaults had escalated within the area in latest instances, with many accusing members of the proscribed Indigenous Individuals of Biafra and the Jap Safety Community of being behind the violence. The teams have nevertheless denied any involvement.
Aside from the killings, authorities amenities resembling police stations and workplaces belonging to the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee have been additionally attacked and a few set ablaze.
In Imo State, for instance, considered one of our correspondents reported that 49 policemen and civilians have been killed and never lower than 11 autos burnt in 37 assaults.
In Anambra State, 76 safety brokers and civilians have been killed inside the interval, whereas 15 buildings and 28 autos have been set ablaze.
In Enugu State, 23 individuals have been killed, 4 INEC workplaces and two police stations burnt.
Ebonyi State, nevertheless, recorded 32 killings and three arson circumstances in 5 assaults whereas Abia State witnessed seven assaults.
In Imo State, among the many a number of assaults, a regulation pupil on the Imo State College, Kingsley Chiwueze, was killed at Douglas Highway on April 27 whereas a policeman was killed on the college’s again gate on Could 19.
On Could 8, a feminine officer of the Nigeria Safety and Civil Defence Corps, Chinenye Nwokeocha, was killed.
On Independence Day being October 1, a person was beheaded at Oru West and in separate assaults the next day, the palace of the standard ruler of Obor and property belonging to a former chief of Orlu legislative council have been set ablaze in Orlu native authorities space.
On October 4, a Division of State Providers official, recognized as Nwachinamere Ozuzu, was additionally killed on Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.
Three individuals have been additionally beheaded in Orlu on August 2; 4 oil staff killed on August 16; an Anglican priest killed on September 14; a Germany-based Nigerian, Oguchi Unachukwu, reportedly killed by safety operatives on the toll gate of Imo Airport whereas a businessman, Noel Chigbu, was allegedly killed by troopers in Owerri on Could 30.
In Anambra State, high police sources confirmed to considered one of our correspondents that about 24 safety brokers, together with police, navy, military, DSS and NSCDC, and about 52 civilians have been killed inside the interval.
Outstanding among the many latest assaults within the state have been the homicide of Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of a former Minister of Info, Prof Dora Akunyili, and eight different individuals at Nkpor on September 29, 2021.
About 19 individuals have been killed in Awkuzu in Oyi native authorities in Could after 4 naval officers have been killed in the identical Awkuzu.
The assaults within the state had worsened in latest instances, which based on analysts and observers, might be tied to the forthcoming November 6 governorship election within the state.
Conventional rulers within the state, led by the Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe, after a gathering in Awka referred to as on the Federal Authorities to enhance the safety scenario within the state.
In Enugu State, Sunday PUNCH gathered that there had been no fewer than 19 assaults, resulting in the dying of 23 safety personnel and civilians.
Among the many assaults have been the assassination of the Govt Director, Scientific Gear Growth Institute, Prof Samuel Ndubuisi, and his orderly on July 7; together with the killing of the Chief Govt Officer of AutoEase, Ifeanyi Okeke, on July 4.
Additionally, a retired state Excessive Courtroom choose, Justice Stanley Nnaji, was killed on Could 31, 2021, whereas two officers of Igbo-Eze North Neighbourhood Watch Group have been killed and their workplace burnt on October 3.
In Ebonyi State, a number of the assaults embody the killing of two troopers at a checkpoint in Afikpo North native authorities on April 26, 2021, and the killing of a policeman by gunmen at Onueke in Ezza native authorities on April 27.
On Could 2, one other policeman was killed by gunmen at Abaomege Police Station. Additionally, 5 farmers have been killed by gunmen at Ali Ugwelu village in Ekoli on July 12; whereas three individuals have been killed through the enforcement of IPOB’s sit-at-home order on August 9 at a boundary between Onicha and Ohaozara native authorities areas.
A six-month-old child, her seven-year-old brother and their mom have been brutally murdered by hoodlums in Ohaukwu native authorities on August 13, whereas on September 8, safety brokers killed a fruit vendor in Onicha-Igboeze, Onicha native authorities.
Additionally, two suspected IPOB members have been shot useless at Ugwulangwu in Ohaozara native authorities on September 16 and on October 7, gunmen killed two policemen and eight civilians at Isu and Onicha-Igboeze communities in Onicha native authorities.
48 police stations, INEC workplaces burnt, 700 arrested in Ebonyi
About 48 police stations, INEC workplaces and different property have been attacked within the area inside the interval beneath overview.
In Imo State, the state police command headquarters, the Owerri Correctional Centre and a military checkpoint on Owerri-Onitsha Highway have been attacked on April 5. A number of inmates have been freed through the assault on the correctional centre.
Additionally, the house of Governor Hope Uzodinma in his hometown, Omuma, was set ablaze on April 24. Izombe and Isu Divisional Police headquarters have been additionally torched in several assaults. Some policemen have been injured within the Isu station assault.
On Could 25, the Orji police station was burnt and three individuals killed; on Could 28, Atta police station was attacked whereas the Atta Justice of the Peace’s Courtroom and well being centre have been attacked on Could 28.
On July 26, Omuma Divisional Police headquarters was attacked, which led to the killing of 4 policemen and the Divisional Police Officer. Additionally, the INEC workplace at Njaba was burnt on Could 29, whereas the Njaba Divisional Police headquarters was attacked on July 30.
On August 4 and 5, there have been assaults on Orsu division police headquarters, resulting in the killing of an Inspector.
In Anambra State, police sources instructed considered one of our correspondents that about 15 private and non-private buildings have been attacked inside the interval.
For instance, INEC headquarters in Awka was set ablaze, although six of the hoodlums who attacked the power have been killed by safety brokers Additionally, a police station at Ajali was burnt in early October. Six policemen have been reportedly killed through the assault.
In Enugu State, no fewer than 4 INEC workplaces have been razed through the interval. They’re the fee’s headquarters within the state and its workplaces in Udenu native authorities, Igbo-Eze South native authorities and most not too long ago the Awgu council workplace attacked on Sept 19, 2021.
Though no one was killed within the assaults, property belonging to the electoral physique, together with autos, mills and workplace gear have been destroyed.
Two police stations have been razed whereas 15 policemen have been killed in several assaults. Three civilians and two troopers have been reportedly killed as effectively.
The police stations attacked embody Iwollo Oghe police station on Could 25 with 4 policemen reportedly killed; Adani police put up on April 21 with two policemen reportedly killed. Additionally, on July 21, a police checkpoint at Obeagu Uno-Amechi Highway was attacked and 4 policemen have been reported killed, whereas a police checkpoint at Nachi in Oji-River was attacked with two policemen reportedly killed on September 20, 2021.
In Ebonyi State, it was additionally learnt that inside the interval beneath overview, hoodlums burnt police stations, a Federal Excessive Courtroom Complicated and an INEC workplace.
Police stations in Ugbodo in Ebonyi native authorities and Abaomege have been attacked whereas farmers and others in Ali Ugwelu and Onicha-Igboeze communities have been attacked by hoodlums.
Sunday PUNCH additionally learnt that arsonists burnt the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abakaliki, on April 26; they set a automotive ablaze at Onueke on April 27 and so they set ablaze the INEC workplace at Ebiaji in Ezza North native authorities on June 18.
In the meantime, the Ebonyi State Police Command stated it had arrested over 700 suspects within the state in 9 months.
The state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, stated they recovered many arms and ammunition from the criminals, including that strategic synergy with stakeholders made it doable.
Garba stated in an announcement that the command additionally rescued about 33 underage women trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana inside the interval.
The assertion learn partly, “It’s pertinent to notice that over 700 suspects have been arrested in reference to completely different heinous crimes perpetrated within the state and conviction of sizable quantity out of them have been secured.”
In Abia State, one assault was recorded on the Uzuakoli police station the place the constructing was set ablaze in April.
In Could, 5 assaults have been recorded. They embody Ubani Umuahia police station, Bende police station, Ubakala police station with two police killed, the SCID in Umuahia with two police reportedly killed. On Could 30, the Immigration workplace in Umuahia was attacked however no life was misplaced.
On June 7, indignant merchants burnt the Umuahia trendy timber workplace of the Abia Vigilance Service workplace. Nonetheless, no life was misplaced.
Ex gov Ezeife, others search peace
In the meantime, an elder statesman and former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; a former Dean, College of Legislation, College of Nigeria, Nsukka and former United Nations Particular Rapporteur on Trafficking, Prof Pleasure Ezeilo, and different leaders within the area have referred to as for peace within the area.
Ezeife suggested that everybody ought to go into prayer and fasting for God’s intervention, including {that a} assembly of all critical Igbo elite must be referred to as to holistically take a look at the problems and proffer options.
He added, “We’re praying additionally that God will intervene. The noise about state of emergency is nothing. Is Anambra State extra violent in comparison with what’s going on in Kaduna State and all of the states within the north? We’ve got to maintain on praying. Let God assist us. Some folks need to rig the election and so they need to create a beneficial situation for it but it surely won’t work.”
Additionally, Ezeilo stated the South-East was crying for justice and equity. She referred to as on the federal government to interact the youth, noting that in the event that they failed to take action, others “will fill the void as a result of nature abhors vacuum.”
She added, “Our youths really feel hopeless after they consider their future on this nation. Good governance and management responsiveness are very important to discovering a sturdy resolution. I see numerous alternatives in dialogue and negotiation for a political resolution.”
Additionally, a former Commissioner for Info in Ebonyi State, Chief Abia Onyike, in a phone interview with considered one of our correspondents not too long ago, stated stress must be mounted on the authorities and the worldwide neighborhood to permit self-determination for the Igbo and Nnamdi Kanu’s launch from detention.
