Many Vacate Anambra Communities As Terrorists Kill Mother, Children

Many non-indigenes living in communities in the Orumba and Onocha Local Government Areas of Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria, have vacated their homes following the gruesome murder of 11 people by terrorists suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 

Daily Trust reported that those killed by the terrorists on Sunday, May 22, included a woman, her four children, and six others who were said to have hailed from the northern regions of Nigeria.

Sa’id Muhammad, the Sarkin Hausawa of Orumba North Local Government Area (LGA), was quoted by Daily Trust as saying, “The woman (killed) was from Adamawa State.” 

“Before her death, she lived in Orumba South, and on Sunday, she visited her friends with her four children.

“It was on her way back home in Orumba South that she was killed. She was being conveyed by a commercial motorcyclist when they were ambushed by the gunmen. They murdered her and her four children but the motorcyclist escaped.”

Others were commercial motorcycle riders reportedly killed at Onocha LGA and their bodies were said to be deposited in the morgue on Sunday evening. 

When contacted on phone about the incidents, Ikenga Tochukwu, Police Spokesperson in Anambra State, did not deny or confirm the incident.  He simply told HumAngle to send a text message. He was yet to respond as of the time of filing this report. 

Mass exodus

Multiple sources, however, told HumAngle that the incidents have since forced many out of their homes because of fear of follow up attacks.

“Many northerners have had to vacate their homes because of Sunday killings. Some have even abandoned their shops and are now moving to neighbouring communities outside Anambra. With time, we will be on top of the situation,” a police source who spoke under anonymity because he was not authorised to speak told our reporter. 

HumAngle learnt that indigenes of the communities are also vacating their homes because of fear of reprisal attacks. 

Declared as a terror group in 2018, IPOB, a separatist organisation is demanding the creation of an independent state of Biafra in the Old Eastern Region of Nigeria, comprising the current Southeast and South-south regions. 

They usually enforce sit-at-home orders to demand the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently in detention and charged with treasonable felony, unlawful possession of arms, and illegal importation of broadcast equipment at a Federal High Court in Abuja. 

There have been concerns about violent activities of the non-state actors that have eclipsed communities and cities in the regions.