By MAry Onyia
Residents of the Ekenobizi community in Umopara, Umuahia South LGA of Abia State have deserted their locality and relocated to neighbouring villages following fear of a reprisal attack by the Nigerian military after an attack by unknown gunmen of the community to the Army on checkpoints occurred on Wednesday.
Consequently, economic activities in the affected locale have shut down, and the community is a ghost land, as many families afraid of falling victims, should the military decide to retaliate have fled their homes for safety.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State condemned the attack, promising his administration would collaborate with security agencies in arresting those responsible.
Many have condemned the killing of the Nigerian soldiers, describing it as barbaric, heinous, and wicked, and have urged the military authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter with a view of apprehending those involved in the attack to avoid any harm to innocent members of the community.
Mrs Ifeoma Ebi, who fled the community with her children to her paternal home in a nearby town told Fiscal Post that she had to seal up her shop and immediately relocate her family for fear of an invasion of the area by the aggrieved military.
Another community leader in the area who prefers to remain anonymous called on the authorities to desist from invading the area but instead conduct a high-level intelligence gathering and adopt globally accepted standards in getting the attackers, not invasion of the district.
Also, the President of the Enyioma Foundation, Enyinnaya Duke-Ako Atuloma added his voice in condemning the killing of the soldiers, describing it as senseless and atrocious.
He, however, appealed to the military authorities to apply professionalism in the search for the real attackers and pleaded that the community should not be invaded in reprisal.