Onitsha mayhem spreads - One killed, soldiers attack schools
THE Onitsha riot that started early Tuesday
continued on Wednesday as protesters formed themselves into
groups and started chasing out non-indigenes from Onitsha
and its environs despite the 2000 mobile policemen deployed
to the town.
Some non-indigene army and police officers
did not help matters as they were said to have gone to Nsugbe
College of Education and the streets of Onitsha, especially
Awada, arresting and shooting students.
Another mini-bus carrying corpses of Bauchi
riot victims and their families to Ngbakwu through Awka,
the state capital, triggered a riot in Awka. Youths came
out in their thousands and went to the non-indigenes’
quarters in Amaikwo. They chased them out and vandalised
their property.
Before policemen got wind of what was happening
in Awka, one person had already been killed around Aroma
junction, but the police succeeded in protecting the mosque
near St. Faith Anglican Cathedral, Awka.
At the Amansea cattle market near Awka, the
non-indigenes abandoned their goats, sheep and cows and
ran to a nearby police station. At Nnewi, the non-indigenes
fled the town, seeking refuge in police stations when they
heard the news of the Onitsha mayhem.
The police Area Commander, Mr. Godwin Obi
(ACP), said that he had ordered his men to prevent a breakdown
of law and order in Nnewi. He said that all the non-indigenes
in Nnewi were safe and were taking refuge at various police
stations and barracks in the town.
When contacted, the Anambra State Police Commissioner,
Mr. Moses Anegbode, confirmed that some people died in Onitsha
with many injured and that two mosques in Bida road and
Headbridge were razed.
He, however, said that policemen had taken
control of the situation in Onitsha while in Awka, vehicles
had been provided by the police to convey non-indigenes
from the streets to the nearest police stations and barracks.
After an emergency state security council
meeting in Awka, the state governor, Dr. Chris Ngige, ordered
a dusk to dawn curfew in Onitsha and its environs.
In a statement signed by his Media and Publicity
Assistant, Mr. Fred Chukwuelobe, he said that the government
deeply regretted the incident while commiserating with the
families of the dead victims and injured ones.
He said both Christianity and Islam preached
peace, love, and enjoined the people of Anambra State be
their brother’s keeper. Meanwhile, Bauchi State governor,
Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, has taken full responsibility for the
mayhem that happened in Bauchi last Monday just as he appealed
to all those that were affected in one way or the other
to take solace in God
Muazu, who went round to assess the situation
Wednesday, lamented the devastation, declaring that his
administration would do everything possible to ensure that
all the culprits arrested were dealt with in accordance
with the laws of the land.
The governor added that every citizen of the
country had the constitutional right to choose where to
live and carry on legitimate business, as well as the freedom
to associate and practise any religion of his choice without
molestation.
He assured the people that every necessary
security measure had been taken to forestall future occurrence,
calling on all those currently taking refuge in different
parts of Bauchi to go back to their respective houses as
security operatives had been deployed all over the town
to maintain law and order.
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