Residents Panic As Soldiers Invade Ebonyi Community, Burn Houses

Residents of Obeagu Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, were in panic following the alleged invasion of troops of the Nigerian Army.

The development was confirmed by some leaders in the community that spoke with Punch on Monday.

According to the community leaders, the military men invaded the community around 5 am and had been shooting sporadically and allegedly burning some houses.

They claimed that the troops who invaded the community came in with ten Hilux vehicles and seven armoured tanks with over 100 military personnel.

At the time of filing this report, the aim of the military had not been stated and nobody has been reported killed.

However, one woman whose identity has not been disclosed was said to have been hit by a stray bullet.

A community leader and immediate past councillor of the community while confirming the invasion said, “We woke up this morning with military gunshots. As I am speaking everybody is on the run. Soldiers are shooting in all the communities. All the Eha-Amufu people that ran to our community after Fulani herdsmen sacked them are also on the run with residents.”

Another resident identified as Ogbuabor Sunday said they were in morning mass, Catholic early morning prayer when the soldiers invaded the community.

According to him, “I was in the church this early morning around 5:30 am when military vehicles numbering over 30 including armoured tanks rolled into the community. Shortly after they started shooting sporadically. None of the people who came to church this morning had gone home. I am answering this call inside the bush.”