Activities at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli campus, in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state have been temporarily suspended due to recent attacks by armed hoodlums operating in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, The Punch reported.
Under the condition of anonymity, a senior academic staff member of the university said, “Due to increased activities of these hoodlums, academic and non-academic staff of the university are always in a panic mood when coming to work.
“The gunmen shot sporadically at the popular Total Filling Station along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, on Tuesday, thereby scaring the people out of the road in the guise of enforcing sit-at-home, which they claimed would last from Monday to Thursday this week.
“As a result of this, all scheduled meetings and lectures at the Uli campus this week have been cancelled by the various heads of departments and units. The authorities at the institution’s administrative headquarters at Igbariam, Anambra East Local Government Area have been briefed on the development.”
Gunmen reportedly surrounded the renowned Nkwo Ogbe Main Market in Ihiala on Tuesday, stopping all commercial and economic activities while claiming to be enforcing a sit-at-home order imposed by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) last week.
The state Police Command while confirming the incident, said normalcy had returned to the area following the operation by joint security forces comprising the Police and Military.
Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said hoodlums believed to be IPOB and Eastern Security Network members arrived in large groups on motorbikes and began intermittently shooting in an effort to obstruct traffic and commercial activity in Ihiala.
“The joint operatives responded swiftly, which made the armed men abandon their evil plan and took to their heels. Unfortunately, due to the indiscriminate shootings by the armed group, a stray bullet hit the chief security officer, CSO, of a bank on the leg and he was taken to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. No life was lost.
“Calm has returned to the area as the Police and other security forces have intensified patrols and improved security surveillance in the area.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
