Villagers in Akpawfu community of Nkanu East LGA Enugu State have fled for fear following alleged invasion of the community by men of the Nigerian Army.
The killing of some policemen at a checkpoint in nearby communities in the area, has reportedly prompted the action by the soldiers who went into the community, searching house to house, arresting scores of youths and able bodied men.
Journalists gathered that the soldiers numbering over 40, stormed the community in four armoured vehicles and other operational vehicles situated in strategic places within the community, particularly, Agudene village.
It was learnt that the soldiers were claiming that the houses belong to community members whom they alleged harbored the gunmen and accommodated them to use their houses to plan the attack of which they had no proofs.
The villagers disclosed that the gunmen, who had attacked the checkpoints, were said to have entered the community from the nearby Akpugo and in the process, one of their Hilux vans summersaulted near St Philip Catholic Church, Akpawfu.
The operation by the soldiers, it was learned, had turned the once peaceful community into a ghost town, as many youths and even old men and women have escaped to the bushes, while those still in the community live in fear, following incessant harassment by soldiers.
Sources within the community, told our reporter that there is a mass exodus of people especially youths from the community, because they fear that soldiers attached to the 82 Divisional headquarters of Nigerian Army, Enugu may likely capitalize on the current situation of dead policemen to torment the people.
A village source, who craved anonymity said, “As I’m talking to you, all young men in the community and even women have fled the community as the soldiers claimed that those houses being searched were used as camping grounds by the gunmen.
“For me, I don’t know if that is true. What I know is that the gunmen drove past our community towards Abakaliki. Why army is punishing us is what I don’t understand.
“Our youths are running away to other towns because we know that the army will see the youths here as targets”
Attempt to speak with the Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 DV, Enugu, Col. Abubakar Abdullahi, was not successful as his phone rang out without response.
He also did not respond to text messages at the time of filing this report.
