Residents in and around Osumoghu community, located in the Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, are currently living in fear due to air strikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force.
According to some residents who spoke to our correspondent on Thursday, they are concerned that hoodlums may carry out retaliatory attacks after being dislodged from the forests around their communities.
The Nigerian Air Force, through its spokesman, Commodore Edward Gabkwet, issued a press statement on Wednesday, announcing that it had bombed camps and armories belonging to the Indigenous People of Biafra in Mother Valley Orsumoghu in the Nnewi South LGA of Anambra State, as well as in Aku Ihube in the Okigwe LGA of Imo State.
Gabkwet stated that the air operations were conducted based on credible intelligence reports indicating that suspected IPOB fighters were planning to cause chaos among residents.
IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful denied the Nigerian Air Force’s claims that they have camps in Osumoghu and Anambra. He accused the military of bombing innocent civilians in the area.
A correspondent who visited the Osumoghu community in Nnewi South LGA observed a tense atmosphere. The streets were mostly empty, and many shops and markets remained closed.
An elderly resident of the community, Nnanna Offor, expressed concern that the hoodlums may regroup and launch another attack.
He revealed that many indigenes of the Orsumoghu community had fled for safety, and he was the only one left in his home. The slow pace of commercial activities in the area is due to traders’ fear of the situation, as evidenced by the deserted streets.
Another indigene, Madam Esther Nkwo, a retired teacher, said, “Our hearts are in our mouths at the moment. The only people you will find in the community right now are the elderly; the youths have fled.
“This is because the security operatives go after the innocent youths by tagging them IPOB and in the process take them away. The whereabouts of many people in the community who have been whisked away in such circumstances have remained unknown, so this is the reason it seems they are fleeing.”
Efforts to get the reactions of the Transitional Chairman of the Nnewi South LGA proved abortive as calls and messages to his telephone line were not responded too.
But an official in the council secretariat, Chidiebere Nwosu, said residents needed not to panic, saying the airstrikes were targeted at hoodlums disturbing the peace of the community.