- Governor gives shoot-on-sight order
BY AGBES NWORIE AND DAVID NWANKWO, ABAKALIKI
Gunmen suspected to be enforcing a sit-at-home order, on Monday, went on rampage in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital and caused a heavy scare in the city.
The hoodlums struck at different locations in the state and reportedly killed four persons at Izhiamgbo in Ohaukwu LGA of the state.
At Ahiaofu, a popular market located within the capital city, it was gathered that the gunmen also stormed the market on motorbikes, and disrupted business activities there.
They were said to have shot sporadically and set ablaze the shop of a woman seen displaying her wares before they fled the market.
An eyewitness who gave his name as Chidebere, said: “we saw the unknown gunmen who came in two motorcycles with guns. They were shooting anyhow to scare people away. They even burnt down a shop belonging to one woman. They saw the woman bringing out her goods outside, they met her and told her to close the shop.
“The woman was asking them about the offense she committed. They told her to lay down on the ground, before you know it, they poured fuel on the shop and set it ablaze. They were four because they came in two motorcycles.”
Gunshots were also heard in other locations in Abakaliki capital city, such as Kpirikpiri area, Spera-in-deo junction, Mechanic sites, among other places, according to eyewitnesses.
The incident made people scamper for safety and the capital city was grounded as people were made to forcefully observe the sit-at-home order.
All the roads and streets within the city were deserted and shops, eateries and markets were shut down within the Abakaliki metropolis, following the development.
The Point recalls that a faction of IPOB known as Autopilot led by one Simeon Ekpa had declared a five-day sit-at-home in South East Nigeria which commenced on December 9, 2022.
The order by Simeon Ekpa had been condemned by South East leaders including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who urged the people to ignore the sit-at-home order.
Reacting to the development in a telephone chat, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, Aliyu Garba, said the reports of gunmen attacks in the capital city was a mere rumor and should be disregarded.
Garba further told our Correspondent that he had been patrolling round the capital city with no report or incident of any attack anywhere in the state and urged people to go about their lawful businesses.
Also, the State Governor, David Umahi, has ordered the security agencies in the state to shoot-on-sight any person found bearing a gun illegally in the state, in line with the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Governor gave the order in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Uchenna Orji, Monday morning.
The statement further urged residents of the state to go about their normal and lawful businesses, without fear as the situation had been brought under control.
