Panic As Soldiers Invade Anambra Market, Shoot Sporadically

Serious tension and chaos has taken over the Nkwo Market in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

There was chaos at the market on Thursday, as soldiers stormed the area and started shooting sporadically into the air.

This is following the reported killing of five soldiers and two civilians by some yet-to-be-identified gunmen in the area on Wednesday.

The soldiers were said to mobilise troops to the community in reaction to the killings which occurred in the area, where the hoodlums laid an ambush on the soldiers while on routine patrol duties.

It was gathered that tension was heightened upon the invasion of the military men as they shot in the air while ordering the traders to close their shops.

The action caused pandemonium as everybody scampered to safety while schools in the area quickly closed as parents withdrew their children. The roads, within a few minutes, were equally deserted.

According to a source in the area, the traders were already set for business for the day before a group of heavily armed soldiers stormed the market and shut down the market with rains of gunshots fired into the air, commanding everybody to pack and go home.

The source further revealed that the order recorded immediate total compliance as the crowdy market became empty.

A top member of the community told journalists that the soldiers had opened fire on his people when they stormed the crime scene at about 3:00pm, injuring some of the residents.

“We understand that they did that to mourn their members who were killed yesterday. They are feeling that something like that happened just yesterday, and today, people came out to trade at the market. Those people killed are all human beings, and their souls deserve some level of respect,” the source said.

When contacted, the state police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the information had not got to the command.

“Although no arrest has been made yet as regards the incident of Wednesday, the situation there is calm now as security operatives are on patrol and restoring normalcy in the area,” Ikenga added.