Clash between soldiers and hoodlums in Ohafia local government area of Abia State has entered the third day, claiming no less than five lives.
Residents told Standardobservers on Friday that shooting in parts of the LGA has entered the third day, forcing the Afor Market in Asaga not open.
A young lady identified as Chiemela Ajunwa was shot dead by stray bullet during the cross fire on Thursday at Ebem-Ohafia. Ajunwa, a 2019 graduate of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede was confirmed dead in a hospital few minutes after she was shot. A soldier attached to the 14 brigade Ohafia and two others were also shot dead.
Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senate Chief Whip had gone to the area to campaign on Thursday when the gunmen began shooting, forcing him to take refuge at a nearby military base.
Locals said Kalu was the reason for the shooting by gunmen on Thursday as they were angry with him and didn’t want any political gathering in the area.
Others claimed that the shooting started after there was a clash of interests by divergent groups which led to the intervention of the 14 brigade.
They said the soldiers placed a siege on Amaekpu, Elu and Ebem Ohafia, with the indiscriminate bullet rattlings shot in Amaekpu and heard by the entire environs.
Several youths have been physically brutalized, flogged and maimed for no reason, they said.
On Friday, another unidentified man was shot dead at Amaekpu Ohafia while a mentally challenged man identified as Sunny was brutalised by soldiers.
Meanwhile, the Orji Uzor Kalu Campaign Organization says the Chief Whip of the Senate never had any encounter with gunmen during his ward-to-ward tour in Ohafia Local Government Area.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the campaign organization, Sunny Idika on Friday morning warned those peddling such rumour against the Chief Whip of the Senate to desist from doing so.
According to the statement, Kalu who is the Senator representing Abia North senatorial district is doing everything possible within his constitutional rights to bring the unfortunate security crisis in Ohafia under control.
The statement reads in part:
“Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and his team never had any armed confrontation with any group during his ward-to-ward tour in Ohafia Local Government Area as peddled by some people.
“Senator Kalu met and interacted with his constituents from Okamu, Ohafor and Ania wards where he admonished them to be peaceful and law abiding.
“Let it be on record that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and his team never encountered any armed group at the communities he visited.
“Therefore, those peddling such rumour against the Chief Whip of the Senate, should desist from the mischievous act.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is doing everything possible within his constitutional rights to bring the unfortunate security crisis in Ohafia Local Government Area under control.”
