Many Feared Dead In Abakaliki, As Gunmen Shoot Sporadically, Burn Shops Worth N100, 000,000
… Ebonyi state is safe”… SSC Emegha
Pandemonium struck in the early hours of today, Monday, in Abakaliki, the Capital of Ebonyi State, as many were reportedly dead following a sudden gunmen’s attack at some market zones.
Famousreporters.com gathered from a reliable source that not only were many lives lost, but also shops worth over One Hundred Million Naira (N100, 000,000) were set ablaze, during the attack which was characterised by intermittent shootings by the unidentified hoodlums.
A Social Media handler Chukwuebuka Franklin Chukwuebuka, who shared the horrible incident on his Facebook page wrote:
“It was both bleeding and sordid as the traders of Ofoke Ishieke Market in Ebonyi Local Government Area, woke up at earlier hours of today to be greeted with the horrific news of fire razing down their shops with about 17 shops having the goods that worth above Hundred million naira (# 100, 000,000), completely burnt down.
“On hearing this ear-aching news, the Executive Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area, Prince Uburu Chinedu, who arrived the market early enough today’s morning, swung into action to ascertain the true cause of the inferno, only to discover that it was as a result of improper and faulty electrical connection by some of the traders who may have used quack electricians for their wiring in their shops.
“In furtherance, the council boss, who was gravely pained on this ugly happenstance, consoled the traders and directed the chairman of the market to immediately compiled the names of those effected by this unfortunate event as he is going to step in as a government while getting other government agencies and NGOs to come to their rescue and advised them to always off all their electrical appliances before leaving the market and stop engaging roadside electricians for their electrical works.
“The effected traders, though seen brimming with pain, got themselves loosed with joy at the timely intervention of Ebonyi Local Government Area Chairman, promised to obey his instructions as they are anticipatory of government intervention in order to cushion the effect of their loss, were also spotted throwing themselves into chanting of solidarity song for the APC gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as they strongly promised to deliver him in the 2023 March poll as the 4th Executive Governor of Ebonyi State”, he said.
However, in a swift reaction, the the awful incident, the Special Security Consultant (SSC) to Ebonyi State Government, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha, enjoined residents of the state to discard the information and peacefully go about their various businesses, assuring that “Ebonyi state is safe”.
According to Emegha, the alleged invasion of the state capital by unknown gunmen was highly misrepresented, as he further stressed that the said attack was a gang of hoodlums that invaded a provision store at Ahiaofu along Enugu/Abakaliki express way which caused panic among the populace, and rumor mongers spread the news within the metropolis.
In a statement by the special security Consultant to the state government, urged the general public to go about their lawful business as the issue has been put under control. The statement reads in full;
“This is to inform all Government officials, civil servants as well as the general public to confidently go about their lawful engagements as what just happened in Ebonyi State was misconstrued and escalated by unscrupulous elements to cause panic and apprehension among the peace loving people.
“For clarity purposes, it was a gang of hoodlums that invaded Ahiaofuru along Abakaliki/Enugu Highway where they partially attacked a provision shop causing a stir around the axis. No life was lost as being circulated by rumour mongers and enemies of the state.
“Again, all Government Functions still stand as scheduled because the state is fully and absolutely under control.
“The men of Ebubeagu and other security agencies have been drafted to strategic locations while others are on patrol to further secure the citizens and their properties.
“Please, be rest assured that our men are tracking down on them and very soon they will be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
“Ebonyi state is safe”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, an Abakiliki based trader who spoke to Famousreporters.com on anonymity has this to say:
“The one I’m sure of that happened today was the burning of Ishieke market, then Ahia-ohuru where they even said that some shops were burnt, some people were shot and killed. I got this one from reliable sources.
“Meanwhile, in the morning around 9:AM, everybody was running helter-skelter around. Running from Vanco, so much crowd and I had to park in haste. But, nothing happened to our shops, our shops are safe so we had to park in haste and run for safety”, he explained.
