• Policewoman still missing after attack on station

AS the sit-at-home continued on Monday in some parts of the South-East, a security guard of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, identified as Stephen Ajah, was murdered by unknown assailants while he was returning home after night duty.

This came after the Divisional Police Headquarters in Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state was allegedly attacked by gunmen.

While the police station was attacked on Saturday night, the killing of the security guard of UNTH took place on Monday 6.30 am at Umueze Ozalla, about five poles away from a heavily manned police checkpoint along Enugu-Port-Harcourt road, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the State.

Although it was not clear who were behind the murder, some sources claimed that the victim was gunned down by hoodlums allegedly enforcing the sit-at-home in the area and Agbani suburb.

A message circulating on some social media platforms with the video of the incident, indicated, “Enugu state is in the hands of God. Nkanu West is burning right now… Please, stay indoors!

“This happened at Four Corners, Ozalla Nkanu this morning – A Security Staff of UNTH going home after night duty brutally killed by gunmen that are forcing people to stay home.”

However, it was gathered that the attack on Umulokpa Divisional Police Headquarters, had left one female police officer missing 48 hours after the incident.

When contacted on telephone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incidents.

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On the killing of the staff of UNTH, the police spokesman said, “There was a reported case of murder of a young man identified as Stephen Ajah, along Ozalla/Agbani Road in Nkanu West LGA, by yet-to-be identified armed men.”

Also, the spokesman for the UNTH, Cyril Keleze, when contacted on telephone, said although the hospital received the news of the killing of its staff, they had yet to ascertain what the circumstance that led to his death.

Gunshots in Anambra as residents ignore sit-at-home order

Meanwhile, there were indiscriminate shooting in some parts of Anambra State on Monday as some residents defied the every Monday sit-at-home protests to go about the their businesses.

Residents of Awka and its environs had to scamper for safety as gunshots boomed at the Eke-Awka central market.

The shootings forced traders, who opened their shops at the market and adjoining streets, to close for the day.

One of the traders said, “As we were in our shops discussing, we saw a truck load of policemen who started shooting when they saw a cluster of people around the market, and people started running. Nobody was killed or injured during the shootings, but we quickly closed our shops and went home.”

At Abagana, in the Njikoka Local Government Area of the state, there was pandemonium around the market as people scampered for safety after they heard the sound of gunshots.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incidents.

Imo grounded over sit-at-home

However, Owerri, the Imo state capital, was grounded on Monday despite the cancellation of the weekly sit-at-home order by IPOB.

The PUNCH observed that the city was a shadow of itself, as banks, hotels, markets, schools, supermarkets and malls were under lock and key.

It was gathered that even the federal and state government employees were absent from their workplaces while street stalls were locked up.

In Enugu State, residents spurned the South-East governors and Igbo political leaders and continued to observe the every Monday sit-at-home protest ordered, but suspended by the outlawed IPOB.

This was despite the South-East Governors’ resolve during their meeting in Enugu that the sit-at-home in the region would no longer be allowed to hold.

However, the situation was different in Abia State as the every Monday sit-at-home protest is gradually waning, with residents going about their normal businesses in Umuahia and Aba.