Indigenes, residents flee for safety as police go berserk in Abia Community

Residents and Indigenes of Ndiegoro in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State have fled from their community following the invasion of a combined team of armed policemen that invaded the community in a reprisal attack.

Our reporter who visited the community on Wednesday reports that many residents claimed that they slept in bushes in the area for fear of being attacked in their sleep by Policemen who had reportedly swore to wipe off the entire community.

At the last count, about 8 houses were allegedly burnt down by the police team that arrived the community in 8 loaded hilux vans and reportedly attacked Okojombo, Anaba, Degema and Umuosi in Ndiegoro community respectively.

While others claimed that they were yet to come in contact with their relatives over 12hrs after the incident, others stated that they evacuated their family members to other parts of the commercial city where they are taking refuge.

They estimated their loss to worth millions as they lost all their belongings including cash and their academic credentials in the fire that engulfed their residents.

One of the residents who gave his name as Orji said that the damage could have been more if not for the timely intervention of a heavy rain that obstructed them from further perpetuating their evil and inhuman act to the innocent indigenes and residents.

Narrating the incident, Orji said “recall that on Friday, police had issues with some boys in this area. The Police officers who had gone to a nearby bunk to go and collect their usual royalty, mounted road block some meters away from the bunk.

“This is not the first or second time that they are doing it. It has been a daily act. But on this fateful day, events turned sour as some guys that we cannot give their identity attacked the policemen and not only snatched their guns, but also killing one and the driver of the commercial bus. The boys also made away with their guns.

“When I came back to hear what happened, I was terrified because I know that they must surely struck. When I came back on Saturday, I was told that police have started massive arrest. I left with other members of my family to a relation’s house near Ohanku.

“On Monday when I came back, I was told that the massive arrest is still on. This made a lot of people to flee from their various homes to avoid being caught in the web of what they know nothing about. I was told that a lot of people have been sleeping in the bush since Saturday while others relocated like me, to the house of their relatives in various parts of the commercial city.

“I was in Umuahia on Tuesday when I was told that the police who arrived here in 10 patrol vans are setting up our houses on fire about 2pm. Nobody was in the and as such, not even a pin was saved. A neighbour who just finished youth service lost her NYSC certificate and university certificates to the fire.”

 A shop owner alleged that the police looted her shop and made away with a huge sum of money she realized from the weekend sales which she was planning to use to settle her customers she bought goods on credit from in the market.

A senior police officer in Aba Area Command, who pleaded not to be mentioned, said that police only went there to burn bunks used for the sale of Indian hemp or planning for robbery operations.

The State Commissioner of Police, Eneh Okon in an interview denied knowledge of the incident, but however disclosed that the police have recovered two out of the three rifles that were snatched from his men last week Friday at Ibadan Street in the same Aba South Local Government Area of the state.

In a swift reaction, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu has stated that his administration is fully on top of the security situation in Ndiegoro community.

Ikpeazu in a Press Release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka assured that the circumstances that led to the alleged destruction and torching of some houses around Ibere Street, Ngwa Road Aba by some Police Officers on October 1 are being investigated at the highest level of the Police Command in the country.

According to the Governor, he is in touch with the Inspector General of Police and that the Abia State Commissioner of Police and will be in Abuja this (Wednesday) night to brief the Police High Command on the issue.

He assured that his administration will not compromise the security of lives and property of the people under any guise.

Ikpeazu advised residents of Aba to remain calm and go about their businesses without any fear but to allow government the latitude to conclude with security agencies to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the events.

Governor Ikpeazu further assures that the plot by some criminal elements to upset the relative calm and peace in Aba has been uncovered by his administration working with security agencies, and made it clear that the security architecture in the State has been substantially beefed up, formidable and ready to secure our people.

He reiterated his earlier advice to criminals, to relocate from Abia State as they will eventually meet their waterloo.