There was pandemonium in Anambra state on Friday morning over news of rampaging gunmen. Lately, residents of Anambra and other parts of the South East have come under attacks.
On Monday, gunmen shot some residents of Ebonyi who failed to comply with the sit-at-home order. Traders in Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka and other places hurriedly closed their shops, and offices and scuttled to safety over rumour that gunmen were closing in.
Sunday Ukaegbu, a spare parts dealer at Nnewi, said he ran three times in the morning, not knowing why he was running.
According to him, he heard that the gunmen were on their way to Nnewi to attack those who refused to obey the sit-at-home order.
“We were in our shops doing our business, and suddenly we saw people running thinking that gunmen were coming to attack Nnewi, in fact, we ran without knowing why we were running this morning,” he said.
Also, Linus Uche in Onitsha said he saw some people running but did not know why they were running.
He said that his wife called him that Onitsha was under attack, but he did not see the attack though people were running.
According to him, some people claimed that there were attacks, but he did not hear any sound of gunshots around Onitsha where he stays.
He said, “People have been calling me that gunmen have taken over Onitsha and there was a serious gun battle but I did not hear the sound of any gun,” he said.
While in Awka, traders at the popular Eke Awka market, hurriedly closed their shops and ran home.
One Miss Janet Okoro said she was in the market when people started running, leaving shops open but she did not know why they were running.
“When I saw people running, I had to join them because they all fled leaving their shops open. Now people have gone back to their shops,” she said.
Also, at the popular Aroma junction, there was pandemonium as the news of the attack made the rounds.
Most traders quickly locked their shops to get safety. Moreso, tricycle operators around the junctions disappeared within some minutes due to the information.
However, normalcy has returned to Awka and people have opened their shops.
When contacted, the spokesperson of Anambra State Police Command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said he allayed fears.
“As I am speaking with you now, I am on patrol. They said that Anambra airport is under attack, and I am just coming out from there now. Nothing happened there. Those who are running, ask them what is pursuing them. Nothing is happening in Anambra state” he said.
He said that the panic is part of the security alert the police raised this morning.
The PPRO urged the residents to go about their normal businesses as the state is not under attack.
