IZUNNA OKAFOR
It was a dramatic scene at Nkwọ Ụga Market in Uga Community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, as villagers jointly apprehended one of the gunmen terrorizing the area.
It was gathered that the gummen, who stormed the area in a bus, started operating immediately and shooting sporadically to disperse the people, while they also snatched some motorcycles from some commercial motorcyclists (known as Ọkada) at the market, to enhance their operation.
A source in the area, however, said immediately other members of the gang fled with the snatched motorcycles as youths were trooping out to confront them; the driver of the bus was trapped down as the courageous youths immediately used iron barricades to block the road and then rushed to apprehend him immediately he armlessly alighted from the vehicle and attempted to escape into a nearby bush.
This is corroborated by videos from the scene currently trending on the social media, showing the villagers surround and interview the apprehended gunman, with one of his legs almost cut off with machete, while stains of blood are also all over his body.
It was learnt that the mob nearly set him ablaze immediately, but was advised to interrogate him, rather than kill him, as he had already received adequate beating.
During the interrogation, the suspect, who said he hails from a Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, also confessed to the crime, and further revealed a partial identity of their leader and traditional herbalist, who prepares charms for them.
The villagers, however, all shouted in amazement when the suspect was stripped, as they beheld assorted charms tied round his waist and his chest.
Reacting to the development, Governor Chukwuma Soludo assured Ndị Anambra that the government is making frantic efforts to ensure adequate security of lives and property in the state, and therefore, urged the citizens to continue to support the government in the fight against insecurity by reporting any suspect or suspected criminal activities to the government and the law enforcement agencies through the phone numbers recently given out for that purpose.
Governor Soludo, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Aburime (in a telephone interview), commended Ndị Anambra for their supports so far in fighting crime in the state, but however, enjoined them to always hand over any suspect caught to the law enforcement agencies for adequate investigation and prosecution, rather than resorting to jungle justice.
He also reassured that the government will not relent in its fight against crimes and insecurity in Anambra State.
When contacted for his reaction, the Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, promised to get back to this reporter.