Palpable tension takes over Awo-Idemili as well as neighbouring communities in Orsu Local Government Area in Imo state, and parts of Ihiala local Government Area and Nnewi South Local Government Areas of Anambra State over recent upsurge in killings cum banditry.
The fear among inhabitants of these areas seems growing by the day with the killings going unabated making the locals scamper for safety as well as the local economy collapsing speedily.
The situation has plunged the areas into unimaginable poverty as a people once regarded as prosperous with her local economy growing at high rate now contending with severe hemorrhage following repeated blood flows,arson and destruction of properties.
The local markets which serve as largest suppliers of baskets to farm producers/Users across the nation collapses with attendant economic hardship cum hunger on the few still living in the areas.
According to some locals who did not want their names in print, the once peaceful area turned into blood bath following the emergence of bandits operating as Separatist group in the area brandishing different types of sophisticated weapons and charms amid heavy threats on the inhabitants.
The group chanting war songs calling for recognition of Biafra as Sovereign state and release of their leader who is held behind bars by the federal government of Nigeria for some years operate without recourse to established order. They met severe punishment on their victims like chopping off genitals or parts of the body or killings including placing huge tolls on the locals to hold burials of loved ones.
One of the locals told us in confidence regarding severe threats issued to families to decimate them while citing a heart wrenching one handed to the Emenike’s family having burnt down their properties.
The source stated that the problem of the Emenike’s family stemmed from an allegation/rumour that one of them serves secretly as State government’s informant and without investigations have seen the group label the family as personal non grata amid death calls.
Also, the grouse of the group over the entire Emenike’s is alleged to be their non commitment to the struggle as some threat calls informed the family that the duo of Boniface and Daniel Emenike who reside outside the country were never supportive of the struggle by donating huge funds to them while threatening to kill any of them who set his feet on the soil. In addition, the family is said to be in pains following the disappearance of Cletus and Monday Emenike making the rest members to run their lives.
The source hinted that the duo, Paul Emenike, and Dominic Emenike have deserted the community as well as abandoning their businesses to save themselves from the marauding bands of killers who daily mull down youths who rejected their advances to join the group in it’s activities.
Meanwhile, the danger posed by the activities of the group going by the name Eastern Security Network(ESN) grows by the day as they engage the federal Security agents into massive shoot out with numerous casualty on both sides as well as unarmed civilians caught in the exchange of fire power.
From investigations, the affected areas serve as a transit link connecting South East states and South-South states of Nigeria but, has presently turned into killing field as well as kidnap for ransom.
Moreso,the locals were in unison as they allege serious Organ harvesting arising from daily killings and disappearances of citizens without traces cum records.
