There was mayhem and confusion in Abakaliki, capital city of Ebonyi State, on Monday, as unknown gunmen attacked the State to enforce the sit-at-home pronounced by Finland-based Simon Ekpa.
INFOXCLUSIVE reports that the State capital was completely abandoned as citizens hastened for safety, while large number of traders who previously opened their shops for businesses, unexpectedly shut because of a paranoid fear of being killed.
An eyewitness, who gave his name as Chidebere, said the unknown gunmen attacked Ahia-Ohuru Market and began shooting irregularly to drive individuals off.
As indicated by him: “People who were around saw the unknown gunmen who rode on two motorcycles, with guns. They were shooting anyhow to scare people away. They even burnt down a shop belonging to a woman. They saw the woman bringing out her goods outside, they met her and told her to close the shop.
“The woman was asking them, what offense did she commit? Before you knew it, they poured fuel on the shop and set it ablaze. They were four in number.”
Likewise, it was accumulated that the popular Ebonyi International Market was suddenly closed, as well as all fuel stations in the State capital, shopping mall and other event centres in the State.
It was additionally accumulated that the said gunmen purportedly killed a few people at Izziamgbo junction, Ishieke junctionand different spots in the State.
Notwithstanding, in a quick response, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State command, CP. Aliyu Garba, who addressed newsmen in Abakaliki, said there was no attack by unknown gunmen in the State.
He requested the citizens from the State to try to avoid panicking.
CP. Garba noted further that he had deployed hundreds of police officers to go on patrol, searching for the said unknown gunmen.
In a related development, the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has, in accordance with the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari, requested the security agents in the State to shoot at sight any civilian seen holding guns.
The Governor, in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Abakaliki, by the Commissioner for Information and State orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, entrusted traders to return to their businesses.
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