Residents of Orsumoghu, Orsu-Ihiteukwa, Uda and Awo-Idemili communities in Anambra State have said they are living in fear over frequent attacks by gunmen.

According to them, mask-wearing gunmen often invade their communities at night to attack them, a situation that has made many residents resort to sleeping in the bushes for fear of being attacked.

According to them, the latest in the series of unrelenting attack happened at about 2.15am on Friday, with the gunmen shooting sporadically and going from house to house, to abduct residents.

Our correspondent who went round the communities on Saturday observed that there was an uneasy calm while markets, shops and even roads were deserted.

The residents locked themselves in their various houses.

The deputy village head, Orsumoghu community, Mazi Okorie Okalawa, who spoke to our correspondent, lamented the devastating effect of the attacks on residents’ lives and means of livelihood.

Okalawa, who was teary-eye as he spoke to our correspondent from behind his locked gate, said the community had become a ghost town as most people had fled to take refuge in places like Awka, Onitsha and other towns that are peaceful.

He said, “These unknown attackers, again, invaded our community heavily armed with masks at about 2am on Friday. They went round houses, shooting and were picking every young man they came across. They shot one person dead.  Up until now, we don’t know the whereabouts of those they took away and even the total number of people they went away with.

READ ALSO Fulfill promise on restructuring, Afenifere, Ohanaeze tell Buhari

“They left a note that they would be back again in three days’ time and because of this, our people, especially the men, who don’t have where to run to, have been forced to be sleeping in the bushes at night in order not to be caught unawares.”

Also, a resident of Uda community, Mrs Juliet Ugo, described the Friday night attack as the “worst” in the series of attacks on the communities.

Ugo said, “We are now helplessly watching as these people attack our communities, killing and maiming anybody they come across. They came on Friday, wearing masks, shooting and ransacking every compound, I heard they killed somebody at Orsumoghu.

“As I talk now, people are relocating out to safer places. Our husbands sleep in the bushes at night because they gave a note that they would be back in three days’ time. I have never seen a situation like this, even in war time, it was never this bad.

“We have sent messages to our people who may be planning to come home for Yuletide not to bother, because there is serious insecurity.”

One of the elders at Orsu-Ihiteukwa, who did not want his name mentioned because of fear, suspected that it was possible the attackers could be members of the community as they wore masks to avoid their faces being easily identified.