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Over 100 girls from the Ogwuaniocha group in Ogbaru Native Authorities Space of Anambra State, on Thursday, marched spherical Onitsha and the environs to protest in opposition to “incessant killings, abductions and destructions of properties” by gunmen of their group.…CONTINUE READING
The ladies, largely of their mid-50s and the aged, claimed that no fewer than 20 individuals have up to now been killed and lots of others sustained numerous levels of accidents since “unknown gunmen” working below the title of “Lion Squad” overran their group.
They alleged that the “killer” squad had in 2021 kidnapped their monarch, Igwe Oliver Nnaji, whose whereabout remains to be unknown until date.
One of many girls leaders, Nkemdilim Onwurah, mentioned contemporary assaults by the “Lion Squad” began final Friday, a scenario which has compelled folks to flee the group.
“However regardless of this large insecurity and killings, the state authorities has deserted the group to those criminals. Solely the realm the place the oil firm operates from is the place being protected by safety operatives, the remaining areas have been overrun by these gunmen, who fled from Orsu, Lilu, Ihiala communities.
“These gunmen have discovered a protected haven in our group as a result of their camps in Ihiala, Orsu, Lilu, are being bombarded by safety operatives. We’re utilizing this chance to name on the Anambra State authorities to return to our rescue. Out homes have been destroyed, individuals are fleeing the group. Most households are hiding within the bushes proper now.
“Final Friday, the unknown gunmen led by the Lion Squad invaded the bushes the place a few of these households are hiding, killing over 20 folks and injuring many others. Our injured kinsmen and girls are within the hospitals proper now receiving therapy.
“We additionally submitted a petition to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Wednesday. That is to attract his consideration in direction of our plight. We additionally written to the police headquarters in Awka to inform them of our plights. They need to come to our rescue by stopping these killings.
“Our youngsters not go to highschool, markets not function, financial and business actions are on a standstill due to these criminals holding the group hostage.”
One other protester, Cecilia Okonkwo, famous that the identical legal parts working below the “Lion Squad”, had in November 2021, reportedly kidnapped the standard ruler of the group, whose whereabout remains to be unknown date.
Based on Okonkwo, the criminals who fled Ihiala and Orlu axis are actually at present tenting in some locations of their group referred to as “Longinus Camp,” “Ose Mkpuruosisu,” “Onuiyi Camp,” and “Usham Ogwuaniocha Annex” to terrorise the folks of the realm.
She lamented that the newest onslaught in opposition to the group had taken place between Thursday, October 19, and Friday, October 20, when a mixed workforce of the phobia gangs and Lion Squad emerged from their bush hideout, swooped on some harmless residents, beating them to stupor and considering that they have been useless, left them, and dispersed.
Additionally contributing, Ngozi Freda, who spoke amidst tears rolling down her cheeks, recalled how the phobia gangsters led by one Double Lion invaded the Igwe’s palace on November 15, 2021, set it on hearth, and kidnapped the monarch.
“The insecurity and killings in our group began as quickly as oil was found in the neighborhood. These criminals shaped an alliance with some opposition and in search of to hijack the management of the assets in the neighborhood. It’s unlucky that the state authorities has ignored our plight whereas solely offering safety to the areas operated by the oil firm drilling oil in our group.
“We use this chance to attraction to the governor to return to our rescue. We imagine he’s a listening governor and he’ll take heed to us,” Freda added.
Nevertheless, when contacted in regards to the improvement, the state police public relations officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, mentioned he was not conscious of the insecurity and killings in Ogwuaniocha group on the time of submitting this report on Thursday.
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