RESIDENTS and business operators in Effurun, Ekpan and other communities in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State now live in perpetual fears as armed gangs continue to unleash mayhem on them.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that no fewer than 10 persons have been killed, while over 100 have been wounded since the beginning of the year. Properties worth several millions of naira, including Shoprite and other shops in the Delta Mall, have either being destroyed or looted within the same period.
Distressed residents condemned the seeming nonchalant attitude of the state government for the mindless killings, robberies, abductions and breach of the peace in Uvwie and environs.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “The governor seems to have ceded Uvwie to armed gangs, while residents live in perpetual fear, sleep and wake up to the sound of gunfire and flying bullets.”
Reports that could not be independently confirmed indicated that at least three persons were killed on Thursday morning in a renewed bedlam in the area.
While speaking with The Nation, a victim of Thursday’s mayhem, Mr Olatuden Daniel, stated: “I don’t know what Delta State government is doing about this high level of insecurity, especially in Uvwie LGA, Ekpan and Jakpa.
“I almost got killed by flying bullets early on Thursday morning on my way to office because some youths were fighting. A responsible government shouldn’t fold its arms and allow youths to take over the government.
“This has been on for a month now and I hope Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa will wake up to his responsibility. “
It was gathered that, in another violent fracas, hundreds of persons who were on their way to their places of work were trapped in another bloody shootout around the Ekpan area of the community.
According to sources, the latest spate of violence in Ekpan and other parts of Uvwie was triggered by a battle for the control of motor parks in the area and its subsequent face-off between the council chairman, Chief Baro Henry and the state governor.
Sources said the interplay of forces working for Baro’s return and those bent on perpetrating the current occupant on the seat is responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the council.
“There are those working hard to demonise Baro in order to ensure that he does not return and there are those working to ensure that the council becomes ungovernable if the elected chairman is not allowed to return to his seat,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity added.
Nation
0 comments:
Post a Comment