No fewer than eight persons have been reported dead after unknown gunmen opened fire on traders at Abakpa Nike in Enugu State.
The incident happened around 5 p.m at Ogwuagor Market, popularly known as Ahia 4, in Abakpa suburb.
An eye witness told DailyPost that the hoodlums stormed the market in a commando-like style and shot traders on target.
The trader, who said he escaped death by the whiskers, lamented that his colleague died during the attack.
“I was discussing with my neighbour, a cobbler, when suddenly we heard gun shots, I quickly ran into my shop; after the gun shot had stopped, I came out and saw my friend lying lifeless in the pool of his blood.
“Apart from him, I also counted two other dead bodies within our axis, a young lady and a married woman.
“Other persons were also killed in different axis of the market”, said a market source.
Another eye witness also told DailyPost that a woman who was driving to the market was shot inside her vehicle.
The Enugu State Police, however, put the number of the dead at two, and casualty figure at five.
In a press statement made available to DailyPost by the spokesman of the command, Ebere Amaraizu, DSP, he said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Amaraizu confirmed the gunfire but said two persons died, while five were injured.
According to him, “The arrested persons are Peter Nwankwo, Udeh Chimezie, Osita Onyia and one Chief Frank Eze.
“One Sunday Eze and Nebechi Mba reported dead have been deposited at the mortuary of the Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu while the injured namely Uwadiegwu Onyegwu, Anayo Ifeji, Ani Basil, Hycienth Ugwu and Ozioma Ezekwem are also receiving treatment in a nearby hospital.
“Investigations into the incident have commenced in full scale to ascertain the root cause and those arrested are now helping the police in their investigation”.
“The state commissioner of police Abubakar Adamu Mohammed has urged members of the public to be law abiding and go about their lawful businesses as security have been beefed up in the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the area”, Amaraizu added.
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