The tension in Ufuma:
Ufuma is a large community under the Orumba North LGA of Anambra State. It has borders with Inyi & Akpugoeze communities of Oji River LGA of Enugu State. It has borders with Awa, Ogbunka, Ajalli & Ndikelionwu communities of Orumba North & South LGAs of Anambra State. I was baptized in the Holy Trinity, Ufuma Archdeaconry of the Aguata Diocese of Anglican Church many years ago. I got my confirmation at the St Mark’s Anglican Church, Ajalli. So, I know the terrain very well.
There’s ongoing turmoil in a village called Umuogem, Ufuma. The IPOB’s armed group has a camp in the village for some time now. A week ago, Army stormed the village and engaged the group to a shootout. Army gunned down two of the men of the armed group. Later, a few days ago, the armed group picked members of the family of one rich trader from the village whom they suspected to have given the information that led to the Army engaging them. The group threatened to waste his children and wife if he didn’t report himself to them in their camp in the village. His brother convinced him to return from Awka and report himself so as to save his family. He reported himself. His family members and brother were released and himself held. He pleaded to bail himself with any amount of money of their choice but they rejected the plea. They brought him to one of his shops in the village and shot him in front of his family members, setting his vehicle on fire and ordering that nobody should pick his corpse for burial. His corpse laid there for some days and afterwards, they ordered that he be buried, and that only four persons should witness the burial, failure of which the other observers risked attack. That was adhered to. According to eyewitness account, the men after shooting the man waited for the Army stationed somewhere in the village to meet them there if they were ready for battle, a challenge the Army didn’t oblige.
Three days ago, Army stormed Ufuma Junction, a busy place and collected the phones of all the people around including traders and okada riders, saying they always communicated the armed group of their passing so as to cause ambush on them. They left with the phones. This was after they did the same thing to people in the village of Umuogem. Villagers have fled the village for fear of the unknown as the group and the Army aim at everyone around. Army have condoned the village, but are unable to meet the armed group in their camp and engage them squarely. There’s tension in Ufuma as a whole as people observe sit-at-home everyday this period for fear of aggression from the either parties. Young people are fleeing Umuogem and neighboring villages for fear of being attacked.
Nwoba Chika Nwoba.
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