By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The beheading of Anambra state lawmaker, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, representing Aguata 11 in the State Assembly and his aide, Cyril Chiegboka by their abductors on May 15 has put more fear into the residents of the state to stay indoors on Monday sit-at-home order.
Also the incessant attacks on daily basis by gunmen on killing spree and destruction of properties has aggravated fear in the besieged region .
Consequently, business activities have remained grounded as roads, markets, courts, schools, among others were shut in the state
The ever-busy Onitsha/Owerri Onitsha/Enugu expressway, Onitsha/Asaba/Benin/Lagos expressway and the Onitsha/Nnewi/Ekwulobia/Uga/Akokwa roads were all almost deserted.
Reacting, a resident of Onitsha, hi was to afraid to mention his name said, “it is the worst today, Monday, because of the killing of a lawmaker and his aide by a yet to be identified gunmen”
“Today’s sit-at-home is severe, unlike the previous ones when people would see very few inter state commuter buses. I don’t see any open market in Onitsha today.”
Also reacting, a lawyer in Awka who pleaded anonymity said that, “I didn’t like the ugly situation now where innocent people like the lawmaker and others were slaughtered like cows.that is why every body is at home now, because of fear of unknown”
‘I was told that criminals capitalized on the situation to maim, rob, steal, assault and extort money from unsuspecting innocent general public who refused to be indoors”
“Markets, shops, even the schools, offices, courts and roads are shut and people are in their various homes playing indoor games and making fun”.
Mr Johnson Egbemu, a resident of Nnewi, said that, ” the state government should beef up security as hoodlums are capitalizing on the situation to commit all manners of crimes in the name of IPOB sit -at-home order.”
” People who went out to buy what they would eat are returned dead. They were shot dead by hoodlums claiming to be ESN members when they were not, he revealed”
At Nkpor, Umuchu, ‘3,3, near Onitsha, Awada, Oko, Onitsha, among other communities of the state, there were lsporadic gunshots and alleged killings today.
