…Flee community over fear of reprisal attack
By Emmanuel Nlewedum
Just over a week after over 20 persons in of Mgbuosimini community in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers state were brutally murdered by yet to be indentified gunmen in the area, residents of the community seems to have lost confidence in the men of the Nigeria Police Force as they allege that the police cannot guarantee their security.
Our correspondent who visited the community, Monday, reports that residents were relocating from the community over fear of reprisal attack by the groups despite heavy presence of security in the area.
Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “The killings in Mgbuosimini is getting out of hands. Look at how more than 15 persons were just killed for what they don’t know.
“I don’t trust this police people anymore. How long will they be here to protect us? It was still like this when they killed Chief Minikwu Chukwu, everywhere you go around Mgbuosimini you will see police people but after one or two months, they disappeared. My brother, as you see me and my people, na pack we won pack like this ooooo”
Another resident further said, “Just a week before these killings, my landlord and a friend who came to visit him were also shot dead by unknown gunmen who just zoomed in.
“In fact am just living in fear in this area oooo, and I believe it’s not just me alone because these boys carrying out this act are just dangerous and heartless. They always come when no one expects. Their last attack that claimed over 12 persons was around 3am, will the police be alert by midnight if they eventually strike again? He asked.
Recalled that the Rivers state police command had earlier assured people of the community of adequate security after the incident and had also declared eight persons wanted in connection with the killings.
Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP. Nnamdi Omoni, who briefed newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Port Harcourt, noted that preliminary investigation by the police showed that the act was carried out by a 10-man gang.
According to the Police spokesman, the eight persons declared wanted were; Daddy Chukwu, 27, Mike Okocha, 25, Alhaji Otums Monday, 23, Nyesom Nwodinka, 19, Orji Amadi, 25, Veejee Orji, 19, David Chibula Orji, 22, and Junior Amadi, 19.
Omoni hinted that the gang was also responsible for the killing of one Late Chief Minikwu Chukwu and Cletus Barigbinee and order killings in the area.
