Fear grips residents as gunmen storm Nnewi

JUSTIN OZUZU, Nnewi


[b]FEAR has gripped residents of Nnewi industrial community over incessant robbery incidents, even as armed men suspected to be robbers again stormed the area yesterday morning at about 7:30am with a white Toyota Camry and Mercedes V boot cars, shooting sporadically into the air for some time before eventually zooming off without robbing anybody.

The incident which took place at the old Ibeto Community Bank junction along old Onitsha road, in Nnewi North local government area of Anambra State also created panic as people scampered for safety for fear of being hit by stray bullets.

A source whose shop is very close to the scene of the incident, told Saturday Champion that the robbers drove in from old Onitsha road through Nkwo Nnewi International Ultra-Modern Market, and had a brief stop over at old Ibeto Community Bank junction where they opened fire after which, according to him, they got into their two cars and took off.

The source however, revealed that the hoodlums, unlike in other robbery incidents in the area, did not cover their faces, lamenting that the dare-devil suspected robbers stormed the scene at a very sensitive period (7:30am) when most residents were on their way to their respective areas of business.

Saturday Champion recalls that banks in Nnewi recently embarked on a partial strike for three days in protest of poor security situation in the state, following the two recent successful bank robbery incidents in Nnewi, even as the poor security situation in the area has kept them (banks) on their toes, as a result of which they now open and close work at internals, especially at the slightest suspicion of insecurity .

Speaking, Mr. Celestine Mbama expressed concern on the state of insecurity in Nnewi and remarked that residents now prepare their mind on daily basis to run at any slightest instance, especially while leaving their houses every morning for business. He expressed fear that the situation may soon be hijacked by touts who may start running after themselves to make a fool of the people, considering the fact that most of them are ever ready to run without even knowing why. When Saturday Champion correspondent walked through the Edo Ezemewi road (Bank road) shortly after the incident, it was discovered that movement was restricted by a combined team of well armed military and mobile police men to avoid being taken unaware, even as one of the armoured personnel carrier was stationed along the same road.

However, the situation has continued to attract mixed reactions as a version of the story fingered at politicians as being responsible for the shooting, since the gang did not carry out any robbery, saying it was purely aimed at discrediting the present administration of Governor Peter Obi, while the other version has it that they were armed robbers who came specifically to show that they are not threatened by the new security arrangements to curb the menace of armed robbery in the state.

The source further said the plot was targeted at proving to Anambrarians that nothing has changed, security wise, especially in view of the two major robbery incidents in Nnewi.[/b]

http://www.champion-newspapers.com/saturday%20files/saturday%20%20articles/articles12.htm

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