Pandemonium rocked Obollo-Afor town in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State when hooded gunmen, enforcing the suspended IPOB sit-at-home order, attacked residents of the community for disobeying the order.
The incident, which happened around 8 am, saw the masked gunmen flogging traders and destroying their ware.
The hoodlums, who came into the commercial town on motorcycles, were seen beating traders who opened shops for business.
A Sienna vehicle belonging to the Udenu Central Neighbourhood Watch was also destroyed in the attack.
Villagers told The Nation that members of the Udenu Central Neighbourhood Watch took to their heels on sighting the gunmen before their vehicle was destroyed.
Eyewitnesses said residents, who had come out for business, were seen scampering for safety as the hoodlums chased them with whips.
A panic-stricken trader, who told newsmen that he had a close shelve with the gunmen, said he was yet to recover from the shock.
He said: “They had guns, knives and whips with which they dispersed people. They didn’t shoot at anybody.
“Their faces were covered. I am still shaking from the shock. I thought they would attack me since my shop was open at the time they passed.
“Later on I heard they were beating some people and asking others to go back home.”
It was learnt that a team of military men, mounting a checkpoint along the road, arrived at the town around 8:30 am to restore normalcy and had been patrolling the town.
Meanwhile, residents of Enugu metropolis deserted the roads and streets for fear of attacks on Monday.
No market, school, public or private place, office, shop or park opened.
Despite knowing the Monday’s sit-at-home order had since been cancelled by IPOB, some residents, who spoke with our correspondent, said they refused to come out because hoodlums had taken charge of the whole exercise. (TheNation)
