The Southeast region’s weekly Monday sit-at-home order has intensified, despite the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the alleged mastermind behind recent gunmen attacks.
On the morning of Monday, November 25, a fierce gunfight broke out between personnel from the Nigerian Army’s 14 Brigade, Ohafia, and unidentified gunmen in Mbata, Umuchima village, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that over 15 military vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, descended on the village around 6 a.m.
The operation targeted a suspected hideout near a river along the border between Abia and the Mbaise axis of Imo State. Witnesses reported that soldiers quickly secured key junctions in the area to prevent the suspects’ escape.
“The gunfire started early in the morning,” one resident recounted, noting that many villagers fled their homes in panic. Heavy gunfire continued into the nearby bushes, though casualty figures were yet to be disclosed. Neither the Nigerian Army nor the Abia State Government had issued an official statement at the time of this report.
The clash occurred just days after Abia State Governor Alex Otti reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to tackle insecurity. Following a recent meeting with top security officials, Otti pledged to restore peace and order across the state.
In a separate development, unidentified gunmen attacked operatives of the Anambra State Vigilante Service along the Amesi-Uga Road in Aguata Local Government Area. The assault left one vigilante member injured and their operational vehicle destroyed by fire.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement. He disclosed that police operatives swiftly responded, rescuing the injured vigilante, who is now receiving treatment in a hospital.
Ikenga added that police secured the scene to prevent further criminal activities, ensuring the safety of properties and goods.
Joint security forces have since ramped up patrols in the area, leveraging intelligence-led strategies to apprehend the attackers and thwart future incidents.
In another incident, police operatives from the Okpoko Divisional Headquarters responded to a distress call about a fire outbreak at Chukwunonso Street along Obodoukwu Road, Okpoko.
No further details were provided, but the response underscores the heightened efforts of security forces to address various emergencies in the region.
“The scene was cordoned off to prevent hoodlums from exploiting the situation to loot properties, and a swift action by fire service operatives brought the situation under control.
“An investigation into the cause of the fire has been initiated to prevent future occurrences,” Ikenga said.
Private schools shut over gunmen attacks in Anambra
In Anambra, private and mission schools that had been operating on Mondays have suspended classes until further notice.
The Catholic Education Council in a directive said: “Due to certain security concerns, it has been considered that schools will not be held on Mondays till further notice.
“Pupils are advised to stay at home and resume on Tuesday 26th November. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.
“SSS3 students are, however, expected to be coming to school on Mondays and Saturdays for special lessons without uniform.
“We appreciate all those who have made sincere efforts to complete all their payments as we expected every well-meaning parent/guardian to have done before now. Please kindly inform others about this message”.
Reports indicate that a recent directive was issued following alleged threats by unidentified individuals to target school buses and institutions operating on Mondays.
As has become customary, commercial activities were largely absent in many areas of Anambra.
At the Awka main market, traders quickly shut down their shops after receiving information that gunmen were planning to attack the market for defying the Monday closure.
Similarly, the Anambra Innovation Week, which commenced on Monday, experienced a significantly low turnout as participants from various parts of the state stayed away.
Despite this, the state’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, officially inaugurated the event with expectations that attendance would improve from Tuesday onwards.
In major cities across the Southeast, fears of attacks by gunmen continued to paralyze economic and commercial activities.
Meanwhile, members of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Diocese of Isiala Ngwa in Abia State, who were recently kidnapped in Kogi State while en route to Abuja, have regained their freedom and reunited with their families.
The group, comprising two priests and several male and female church members, was traveling to Abuja for the annual Divine Commonwealth Conference of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion (DIVCCON) when they were abducted by unknown assailants.
The incident sparked widespread concern among the Anglican community and led to calls for prayers across dioceses for their release.
According to the Diocese, the abducted delegates have safely returned to Abia State, but details remain unclear regarding whether their release was facilitated by a police rescue operation or a ransom payment.
(Vanguard)
