Natives of Akpawfu community, Nkanu East local council of Enugu State fled their community yesterday following its invasion by a combined team of security operatives said to be searching for unknown gunmen, IgbereTV has learned.
A source said the operatives, who invaded the area in four Hilux vans, were in search of unknown gunmen who on Wednesday evening killed some policemen at the Amaechi axis of Enugu South.
It was further gathered that the gunmen, who had attacked the checkpoints, were said to have penetrated the community from the nearby Akpugo, and in the process, one of their Hilux vans somersaulted near St Philip Catholic Church, Akpawfu.
“This must have informed the belief by the military that the gunmen were camped in Akpawfu,” a village source said.
The source claimed that the soldiers came into the community in the early morning, searching house to house, arresting scores of youths.
The soldiers reportedly came in four armoured vehicles and other operational vehicles situated in strategic places within the community, particularly, Agudene village.
Sources within the community disclosed that there is a mass exodus of people, especially the youths from the community.
A village source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Daily Post, said, “As I’m talking to you, all young men in the community and even women have fled the community as the soldiers claimed that those houses being searched were used as camping grounds by the gunmen.
“For me, I don’t know if that is true. What I know is that the gunmen drove past our community towards Abakaliki. Our youths are running away to other towns because we know that the army will see the youths here as targets.”
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