Sit-at-home: Gunmen cause mayhem in Ebonyi as residents scamper for safety

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Following a sit-at-home order, gunmen numbering over eight in red regalia, patrolling in a light brown Sienna bus were seen in Ishieke community, Ebonyi State, shooting sporadically.

The gunman was heard in a short video, saying, release Nnamdi Kanu; no Nnamdi Kanu no Peace.” “You can see that Keke is burning. Destroy everything.

“It is happening in Ebonyi, Ishieke market. Destroy all of them. As you can see, everywhere is burning. “

The affected market was deserted as gunmen went from Store to Store causing uneasiness.

The wave of this development affected the State capital as other markets within the metropolis did operate effectively.

According to one of the sellers in the market, (names withheld) lamented her painful ordeal

“It wasn’t funny this morning as everybody was runny helter-skelter. Some shops are closed because of the attacks in the State.”

The Abakaliki metropolis seems to be experiencing unusual quietness as residents are seen making efforts to reach their homes on time.

However, the Ebonyi Police Command says no life was lost in the state following the seven-day sit-at-home order by a faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The sit-at-home order declared by one Simon Ekpunobi based in Finland started on Saturday and would end on Friday.

SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command asserted in an interview on Tuesday in Abakaliki.

Onovwakpoyeya explained that the group were only shooting sporadically at some locations to scare people away in a bid to enforce the sit-at-home order.

“There was no casualty. Nobody sustained injury either on the part of the civilians or the police. Police have intensified patrol within the town and even at the hinterlands,” she said.