By John Ugo, Awka
Apprehension is rising among the people and residents of Ebonyi state as gunmen on Monday morning set the popular Ishieke market ablaze.
This came less than 24 hours after gunmen attacked and torched a section of headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri the Imo state capital.
The Ishi Eke market located near Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital was said to have been set abalze by unknown Gunmen to scare residents who refuse to observe the ongoing Sit-At-Home directive by a fraction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The unknown gunmen have threatened to attack those disobeying the 5-days sit-at-home ordered by Simeon Ekpa faction of the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB in South East states.
Already, tension is brewing in the state forcing residents to residents to quickly close their shops and business premises.
Sources said the market was completely burnt to ashes in the early hours of Monday.
The fire incident started around 2:am and destroyed goods worth billions of Naira.
As at 7am many traders were seen crying profusely over the massive destruction of goods in the market.
The victims, some of who had stockpiles their shops with goods ahead of the Christmas’s and New Year seasons however called for help from both the State and the federal government as well as good spirited individuals.
Security operatives were reportedly deployed to forestall breakdown of law and order in the area.
It was gathered that workers who went to work on Monday morning vacated their offices while traders in markets and street shops shut down their businesses in fear of being attacked by the hoodlums.
As at the time of this report many of the workers and traders were seen returning to their homes while some motorists parked by the roadside to ascertain the actual state of events.
Recall that Ebonyi has not been observing the Monday sit-at-home since the state government stood its ground to stop it by threatening to sanction any worker or trader that stayed away from their daily activities.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Barr Uchenna Orji when contacted on the incident admitted that there was apprehension in the state over reports of attack by hoodlums but said there is no official reports on the development.
He said security agencies have been directed to take charge of all entry and exit points within the state to forestall any attacks by suspected gunmen and to ensure adequate security of lives and properties of people and government of the state.
Orji assured that the state is intact as far as the state government is concerned.
“Well,I will say that we have not heard any official report of any attack. But there has been apprehension about the activities of non state actors. I will specifically tell you that the Ebonyi State governemnt is on top of that. Security agencies have been directed to mount checks on all the corners of junctions of the state to ensure that criminal elements are tracked”
He added that,”Members of the public have been asked to go about their businesses. We are on top of the situation and you know rumour can cause anything, it can cause panic, unnecessary tension. That’s just the situation but let me assure you that Ebonyi state is intact.”
