By Tony Edike & AnayoOkoli
Posted to the Web: Wednesday, February 22, 2006

*Mosques burnt, govt imposes curfew

*2,000 policemen drafted to stop killings

ONITSHA — AT least 22 people were killed yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State in what was described as a reprisal attack over the mayhem that erupted in Maiduguri, Borno State last Saturday.
Over 2,000 mobile policemen drawn from Force 29 Mobile Unit Awka were drafted to Onitsha to stop the mayhem from spreading to other parts of the state.

Eyewitnesses said most of the victims were based at Onitsha end of Niger bridge, popularly known as “Head Bridge.” Two mosques at the Head Bridge market were burnt during the riot. The state government, in a swift response, imposed a curfew from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Onitsha and its environs.

Eyewitnesses said the violence erupted in Onitsha yesterday morning after bodies of some Igbo killed in the Maiduguri mayhem were brought to the commercial city by their relations.
Some youths who were incensed by what they saw marched to the Head Bridge market and Upper Iweka area and attacked people.

They moved to the mosques at Head Bridge and on Bida Road and attached them while some people who were caught unawares were severely dealt with,” an eyewitness said.
Although Police authorities in the state could not confirm casualty figures, sources said the death toll could rise as some bodies were seen around Upper Iweka and the Head Bridge area.

The State Police Commissioner confirmed to reporters in Awka that the command was aware of the crisis in Onitsha and was trying to bring the situation under control, but declined comment on the casualty figure.

On his part, Governor Chris Ngige, after an emergency security meeting in Awka, called for calm among the people of the state, assuring that necessary security measures had been taken to protect lives of citizens residing in the state.

He condemned the reprisal attack which he said was unnecessary since the Federal Government had taken steps to protect easterners living in Northern parts of the country. The governor said 2,000 policemen had been deployed in Onitsha to forestall further breakdown of law and order, assuring that everything possible would be done to protect lives and property of all residents.

Security agents on alert

Meanwhile, law enforcement agents in the state had been put on alert to deal decisively with anyone involved in acts of lawlessness, recklessness, brigandage and revenge at known flash points in the state.
The tensed situation forced the traders to close the busy Onitsha Main Market.

To checkmate the situation, an emergency meeting of the state security council was held in Awka and attended by the Commander 302, Artillery Regiment, Onitsha, Col. Lukas Chollampam Logagwoma; Director of the State Security Service in Anambra State, Ahmad Saleh; Governor Ngige and the state Commissioner of Police.
Governor Ngige said “several lives were reported to have been lost, though the number has not been confirmed. Some mobs and miscreants in Onitsha cashed in on the incident in Borno State to cause breach of peace.

“We understand that mobs of about 10,000 to 15,000 were being mobilised for a reprisal attack but the police and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to take action and ensure that the hoodlums do not take the law into their hands

“They have also been told to disperse the protesters and ensure that people’s lives and properties are not destroyed by the protesters. At the moment, the security formations put in place are enough to handle the situation and at the moment there is no need to inform or ask for the services of soldiers because actions are being taken in that regard presently.”
The governor said the army barracks in Onitsha was over-flowing with those who ran there for safety. He confirmed that some houses were reportedly torched in the attacks and appealed for calm.

Later in a statement, the government warned the people against molesting anybody. “It has come to the attention of the Government of Anambra State that some unidentified people under the guise of revenging recent attacks on Igbo residing in parts of the north, today, Tuesday, February 21, 2006, embarked on reprisal attacks and demonstrations in parts of Onitsha and in the process killed and seriously wounded innocent people.

“The government deeply regrets this unfortunate incident and while commiserating with the families of the deceased and injured hereby warns all those involved in the attacks to stop forthwith,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, following the mayhem in Onitsha, those who escaped were said to have invaded Asaba for a safe haven. At the time of this report, over 5,000 of them had taken cover at the Police A Division, Asaba. Most of them were escorted into Asaba town by men of the Delta State Police Command posted to the Niger Bridge.

State Police Command's spokesperson, Miss Olabisi Okuwobi, in a statement in Asaba last night said “the Delta State Police Command calls on the members of the public to remain calm in respect to the security reports from Onitsha, Anambra state."