Unknown gunmen kill two in Enugu community, abduct several others, set houses ablaze

By Uchenna Ugwu, Enugu

Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have shot at least two persons dead in Ihuokpara community, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The duo were branded saboteurs by the militant wing of IPOB and shot dead, while other wanted indigenes of the community escaped by the whiskers.

This was disclosed by a prominent leader in the community, Chief Silas Nwomeh, who briefed journalists in Enugu, the Coal City capital, on the worrisome developments in the community.

It could be recalled that a combined team of security agencies recently raided some parts of Nkanu West and Nkanu East Local Government Areas over allegations that members of the IPOB/ESN were using some of the communities as hideouts.

A reliable source hinted that this angered the dislodged members of the non-state actors, prompting their repeated attacks on the communities, especially on those considered as saboteurs.

It was gathered that the two victims were among the youths being lured to join the Eastern Security Network, ESN, a militant wing of the IPOB.

Nwomeh disclosed that since the formation of ESN, the group had been trying to conscript some indigenous people of the community into its militant wing.

He, however, lamented that, “the trend is that once you refuse to join them, they will brand you a saboteur and find a way to terminate your life.

“On this particular day, on December 22, 2023, they stormed our community, Ihuokpara and invaded the residential houses of many youths who they claimed were saboteurs.

“They targeted three youths, Chigozie Madu, Christian Madubuike and Ogbonna Chukwudi Francis.

“They accused them of spying for some security agencies, especially for recording their earlier attack on Akpugo Market.

“They claimed that the youths were working in cahoot with security agencies; for that reason, they stormed the community and started picking out some youths. Two of them were shot dead, while others were abducted.

“My cousin, Ogbonna Chukwudi Francis cheated death as he miraculously escaped.

“However, he lost his only son while the wife was trying to escape from the mayhem.

“More than 10 houses were completely set ablaze by these hoodlums who have continued to return; and security agencies appear to be helpless in the face of this ongoing carnage.”

He said the essence of the press briefing was for the government and the relevant security agencies to come to the aid of the community.

“Our community needs protection; we should not be allowed to live at the mercy of gunmen.

“We all need Biafra, but it should not come by killing our own people under the guise of a freedom fight,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police confirmed the killing, noting that it was on the trail of those behind the mayhem Ihuokpara community.