•The new group, “Umuoma”, has invaded many communities
Jude Johnson
Suspected gunmen, on Friday Night, combed into Ebenator Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and moved from house to house to snatch guns from members of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) operating or residing in the community.
It was reported that in each house entered, they first tied up all the adult family members, dispossessed them of their phones and other belongings.
The gunmen were said to have flogged them with machetes, while coercing and awaiting the security people to ‘hand-over’ his gun to them.
It was also gathered several people especially those who attempted to resist the invading gunmen or deny having guns were injured.
Another source who simply identified himself as Sam alleged that the gunmen, who are now popularly known and addressed as ‘Ụmụọma’ in the entire area, had also recently carried out such invasions and operation in other neighbouring communities.
At one of the affected communities Ezinifite, they wrote to the Traditional Ruler of the community to gather all the security men’s guns in the community at a specific venue, where they went and carry them on a fixed date.
Ukpor, the Headquarters of Nnewi South Local Government Area, also had the similar experience, according to the source.
The ‘Ụmụọma’ operatives were also alleged to have recently snatched some motorcycles from some youths of Ebenator community, as they have always done to people.
It is their practice to direct the hapless owner visit their camp to ‘bail’ their motorcycles with amount of money, not less than ₦15,000.
The Network further gathered that the Umuoma operatives are seen mostly in Ezinifite, where they have made it a policy for anyone who intends to organize a burial ceremony or any such crowd-pulling occasion to first ‘settle them’ before hosting the event, without which they would storm the venue and disrupt the occasion.
“This thing I’m telling you happened again on Feb. 28 in Ezinifite, where the heavily-armed Umuoma men stormed a burial ceremony and disrupted everything with gunshots, beat up the securitymen sighted at the event with uniform that looked like that of Ebubeagu Security Outfit.
“Everybody, including the mourners and the burial guests took to their heels and deserted the burial venue for their lives.
“Every Monday is now a no-going-out day in this area, because Umuoma patrols around, most especially around Abanator Market in Ezinifite, to enforce the sit-at-home order.”
“And anybody they catch will regret ever stepping out. People no longer come out nor go about their normal activities in the area on Monday, due to fear,” the source revealed.
The source added that Umuoma‘ have also snatched several cars from innocent individuals within the Abanator Market and its environs, which they use for their operations.
The source said that Umuoma operatives move around freely without plate numbers.
It would be recalled that Ezinifite community, through Ulasi River, shares boundary with Lilu, Amaruru and some other places that have become major security flashpoints and danger zones in recent time due to the activities of the unknown gunmen.
Hence, speculations abound that there are many migration paths through which the hoodlums easily navigate from one area to the other in that region, to perpetrate their evil acts undisturbed.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga said he was not aware of the development, but assured of the Command’s resolve to investigate the report and take the necessary action.
Credit | TN