By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Abuja: No fewer than 175 persons, including soldiers, police and civilians, have lost their lives in South-East Nigeria within the last six months due to the insecurity that has engulfed the troubled region in 72 attacks by gun-wielding goons across the five states in the region, namely Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia.
Apart from the killings, government facilities such as police stations and offices belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were also attacked and some set ablaze.
In Imo State, for example, 49 policemen and civilians were killed and not less than 11 vehicles burnt in 37 attacks. In Anambra State, 76 security agents and civilians were killed within the period, while 15 buildings and 28 vehicles were set ablaze.
In Enugu State, 23 persons were killed, four INEC offices and two police stations burnt. Ebonyi State, however, recorded 32 killings and three arson cases in five attacks while Abia State witnessed seven attacks.
On Independence Day being October 1, a man was beheaded at Oru West and in separate attacks the following day, the palace of the traditional ruler of Obor and property belonging to a former leader of Orlu legislative council were set ablaze in Orlu local government area.
Three persons were also beheaded in Orlu on August 2; four oil workers killed on August 16; an Anglican priest killed on September 14; a Germany-based Nigerian, Oguchi Unachukwu, reportedly killed by security operatives at the toll gate of Imo Airport while a businessman, Noel Chigbu, was allegedly killed by soldiers in Owerri on May 30.
Prominent among the recent attacks in the state were the murder of Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of a former Minister of Information, Prof Dora Akunyili, and eight other persons at Nkpor in September 29, 2021.
The attacks in the state had worsened in recent times, which according to analysts and observers, could be tied to the forthcoming November 6 governorship election in the state.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Police Command said it had arrested over 700 suspects over the killings.
The state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, said they recovered many arms and ammunition from the criminals, adding that strategic synergy with stakeholders made it possible.
Garba said in a statement that the command also rescued about 33 underage girls trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana within the period.
The statement read in part, “It is pertinent to note that over 700 suspects have been arrested in connection with different heinous crimes perpetrated in the state and conviction of sizable number out of them have been secured.”
