Following the killing of four police officers and two civilians in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, palpable fear has gripped residents of Akpafu community as soldiers attached to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, have stormed the community.
The Street Journal had reported that the killing of the policemen took place at a checkpoint by unidentified gunmen who disguised as police officers.
The soldiers said to be numbering more than 40, arrived in four armored vehicles and other operational vehicles.
A source who spoke to Daily Trust said the soldiers believe that some of the residents are harboring the gunmen.
The gunmen, who had attacked the police check-points, reportedly entered the community from the nearby Akpugo and in the process, one of their Hilux vans somersaulted and caught fire near St Philip Catholic Church, Akpawfu.
“But the soldiers are thinking that the gunmen must have razed their vehicle to cover their tracks, and that they may be hiding within the areas, ” the source said.
“As I’m talking to you, all young men in the community and even women have gone underground as the soldiers claimed that those houses being searched were used as camping grounds by the gunmen,” another anonymous resident had said.
“For me, I don’t know if that is true. What I know is that the gunmen drove past our community towards Abakaliki. Why army is punishing us is what I don’t understand.
“Our youths are running away to other towns because we know that the army will see the youths here as main targets.”
Meanwhile, the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army is yet to react to the development.