Following the recent crisis that has torn Owerre-Ezukalla and Ogbunka towns in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State apart, more arrests have been made by the security operatives stationed in Ogbunka, over the town’s continued use of illegal arms and weapons.

Ogbunka town has allegedly been terrorising travellers, neighbours and security agents deployed to curtail the rising crime and insecurity in the areas of conflict.

A source who spoke with Daily Sun on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the renewed arrests were as a result of intelligence gathered on the suspects and renewed attacks on security operatives deployed in the area.

It was also revealed that the police prosecutor handling the charges of murder, arson, stealing and malicious damages and conspiracy to commit these offences, had last Friday refused plea by counsel to Ogbunka, for the security operatives to relax their manhunt for more suspects from Ogbunka for prosecution.

No fewer than 23 suspects had been arraigned in court over alleged involvement in the crisis.

Furthermore, it was gathered that the Ogbunka youths operated from their hideout at Umunebo forest, Ugwungodo area bordering Ogbunka and Awlaw town in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State as well as the Ogbunka-Umueji-Ufuma in Orumba North Local Government Area respectively, from where they strike and return to their hideouts.

The source said the Ogbunka militants attacked the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) attached to the Divisional Police Station, Umuchukwu, Orumba South LGA, on the day 23 suspects from Ogbunka were charged to court.

Twenty-four hours later, according to the source, the Ogbunka militants launched another attack, after sacking the policemen deployed there to secure the lives and property of the Owerre-Ezukala people.

Shortly after the army and other security operatives stormed Owerre-Ezukala to rescue them from their invading neighbours, the Ogbunka people had continued to protest the intervention of security agencies.

It was further learnt that the Ogbunkas had mounted roadblocks at the Orie-Ogbunka market axis where six illegal bumps were constructed to slow down vehicles plying Isuochi/Owerre-Ezukala/Ogbunka/Umunze road to attack their targeted enemies. It was said that the youths, prompted by their leadership, had vowed to deal with any government official that dared to remove the illegal bumps.

However, a source from the police authorities claimed that the unfounded allegations would not be enough to cause the withdrawal of the security operatives in the community, which the source said had a large cache of weapons in their hideouts and some residential homes.

When Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, the police public relations officer for Anambra State was contacted, he denied renewed violence on security personnel but said investigations were on regarding the recent reports.

http://www.nigerianews24.com/articles/more-violence-as-ogbunka-people-attack-police-daily-sun