Orlu crisis: Markets, schools, churches plus oda places still dey shutdown for Orlu sake of shooting

Markets, schools, churches still dey shutdown and no free movement of persons be situation one week afta gunmen attack Orlu community Imo state kill pipo and injure odas.

Tori be say gunmen invade Okporo and Umudim plus oda communities for Orlu last week burn houses, shops and do shoot out wit government forces wey lead to di killing of yet to ascertained number of persons including military personnel.

Police authorities for Imo state still never find out who be di gun men wey do di attack.

So far wetin police fit confirm be say true true gunmen attack Orlu and do shoot out wit security men. Dem claim say peace and normalcy don return to Orlu and it’s environs.

Dis dia claim dey different from from wetin our reporter see for ground wen e visit dia. Free movement never return to di city, markets, churches, schools, banks and shops still dey shutdown.

When our reporter reach dia Wednesday evening, pipo dey run upandan as dem dey try return to reach dia houses before di curfew time to reach.

Barricade for Orlu

BBC
Military barricade still dey ground for Orlu

As at Thursday security men still barricade banana junction wey dey for middle of Orlu plus oda major roads.

Traditional prime minister of Amanator Okporo Orlu Chief Victor and oda Pipo for di area wey tok to us say dem dey live inside fear.

“We no fit go collect our money for bank, our market dey shutdown, we no fit move around freely, tell goment to call off dis curfew” na so chief Victor tok.

Some of dem say dem believe say na members of di Eastern Security Network bin do di shooting wit army and police wey kill some pipo and injure some.

Dem say dem dey now sleep wit dia one eye open sake of say dem no know when di next shooting go begin.

We no notice presence of any of di gunmen and but we hear sound of shootings wey we believe say na security men dey shoot to scare away pipo.

For di Hausa pipo base wey di gunmen bin attack, plenti security officers dey di area. Police no gree anybodi near day side including presss men.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo react to Orlu Crisis

Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo don chok mouth for di recent crisis wey happun for Orlu town, Imo State and re-emphasise say Ndigbo no dey at war with Nigeria.

Di group tok dis for one statement wey dem title Orlu crisis and security in Igbo land and sign by di National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo notes with sorrow and agony di recent disturbances inside Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State wey rusult to di loss of lives and properties plus cause serious hardship to di pipo of Orlu and odas.”

“We must recall dat di President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo for im first press conference inside Enugu on 20th January 2021, categorically state say Ndigbo no dey at war with Nigeria and no get anything pending before any institutional authority wey demand separate existence from Nigeria.”

Report bin come out over di weekend say Eastern Security Network [ESN] members clash wit sojas for Orlu town, Imo State southeast Nigeria and dis lead to death and injuries.

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo say dem appreciate di quick response of Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and all di Imo State security apparatus, wey with di cooperation of federal goment authorities contained and control di Orlu crisis from escalating.

“Di Imo State Goment quick action and decision on dusk to dawn curfew and withdrawal of di army bring relative peace to Orlu Zone and dia environs.”

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo advise pipo of Orlu Zone to remain calm and law abiding. Dem also go further to explain one statement from Late Chukwuemeka Odumegbu Ojukwu wey say; ‘Di bone shall rise’

“Di Late Chukwuemeka Odumegbu Ojukwu statement dat ‘di bone shall rise’ no mean ‘conflict, violence and war’ but e mean say Ndigbo should continue with dia history to dey creative and constructive in dia engagements with di rest of Nigeria.”

“No reason, no goal, no national objectives wey Ndigbo fit achieve or dey worthy of further loss of lives of our youths and odas both inside Igboland and beyond. “

  • Ohanaeze Ndigbo promise say under dia present administration dem dey ready to prevent dia pipo not to be victims of Nigeria circumstances and history of violence wey dem no create or fit control.
  • Di Igbo socio-cultural group conclude say according to di word of di President General , Ndigbo pipo na builders and dem no be nation wreckers/destroyers.