Africa-Press – Nigeria. A group, Concerned Ufuma Professionals, CUP, has raised the alarm over the activities of gunmen masquerading as separatists in Umuogem Village, Ufuma community of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
A member of the group, Mr. Chukwuemeka Okeke who took time to chronicle the activities of gunmen in the area said the entire village has been overtaken by gun-welding men, who dictate what happens.
In a long piece he wrote to reveal the activities of the men, and posted by social media influencer, Dr Uche Nworah, he said: “Umuogem and Umueji, two villages in Ufuma town of Orumba North, Anambra State, are under siege by criminals who have taken over their forests and roads with some surprising boldness that can baffle any sane society.
“These criminals dictate who goes to the farms or who doesn’t go. They place levies to be paid before any celebrations could be held. They take phones, remove sim cards, order when you open shops and when you close them.
“Whether by day or by night, they parade around the two villages with their guns hanging dangerously on their shoulders while the villagers cower in fear. They have seized the community’s palm plantations and assigned their agents to harvest, sell, and return money to them, to the great pains of the poor villagers.”
Speaking about extortion by the gunmen, Okeke said: “Recently, in broad daylight, they snatched a new motorcycle from a young man, who serves as a gate man to one of the compounds in the village. One of them is said to have even visited a family and proposed marriage to one of their daughters.
“On Friday, 8th August, two men, (Mr Ikechukwu Ibe and Mr Chimezie Ifesineke) had a quarrel. One of them (Mr. Ikechukwu ) went and invited these criminals to help him deal with Mr Chimezie. As they couldn’t meet Mr Chimezie, they left a message that if he fails to pay one hundred thousand (N100,000) naira within a few days, they would come back to kill all his children and burn his house.
“The said amount was to cover the cost of bullets they wasted in his house and to cover for the cost of treating Mr Ikechukwu. Mr. Chimezie has been seeking help to raise the amount.
“Last week too, they forced people who came to perform a traditional marriage to transfer the sum of forty thousand N40,000 before the groom’s people could be allowed to enter the compound of their bride. They mount road blocks along the Umuogem – Ogbunka road. Every Monday, they shoot indiscriminately to scare the villagers; insisting the villagers must observe a compulsory sit-at home order.”
The group begged for the intervention of the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to address insecurity in the area.
“People of Umuogem and Umueji villages in Ufuma, Orumba North LGA cry to Anambra State government for help as their community is under siege by criminal elements. Government and security agencies should please come to our aid,” he begged.
Some members of the community who spoke to DAILY POST confirmed that the gunmen are daily gaining confidence in the area.
However, when our reporter reached out to the spokesperson for Anambra State police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga to confirm this report, he insisted that no such case exists there.
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