NO
fewer than eight persons have been reported dead after unknown gunmen
opened fire on traders at Abakpa Nike in Enugu State on Thursday.
The incident, according to eye witness account happened around 5.00
p.m. at Ogwuagor Market, popularly known as Ahia 4, in Abakpa suburb.
An eye witness said that the hoodlums stormed the market in commando style and shot at traders.
The eye witness, a trader, who said he escaped death by the whiskers, lamented that his colleague died during the attack.
“I was discussing with my neighbour, a cobbler, when suddenly we
heard gunshots, I quickly ran into my shop; after the gunshot had
stopped, I came out and saw my friend lying lifeless in the pool of his
blood.
“Apart from him, I also counted two other dead bodies within our axis, a young lady and a married woman.
“Other persons were also killed at different axis of the market,” he said.
Another eye witness while narrating his experience, said that a
woman who was driving to the market was shot inside her vehicle.
The Enugu State police, however, put the number of the dead at two, and casualty figure at five.
The police also said four youths suspected to be involved in a gun fight had been arrested.
The names of the suspects in police custody were given as Chief Frank Eze, Peter Nwankwo, Udeh Chimezie and Osita Onyia.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amarizu while
confirming the story said that investigations into the alleged incident
had commenced in full scale to ascertain the root cause of the incident
and those behind it as the arrested persons had made useful statements.
Reacting to the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar
Adamu Mohammed, urged members of the public to be law abiding and go
about their lawful businesses as security had been beefed up to
forestall further breakdown of law and order in the area.
Meanwhile, the injured persons namely Uwadiegwu Onyegwu, Anayo Ifeji,
Ani Basil, Hycienth Ugwu and Ozioma Ezekwem are now receiving treatment
at the Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu where the corpses of the deceased
were also deposited.
