Fear Of War Grips Onitsha Residents As Truckload of Ammunition Falls

There is palpable fear amongst Onitsha residents on likely outbreak of war following the constant movement of ammunitions and exchange of gun fire between the security operatives and yet to be identified militia groups.

As attacks on security formations have continued in various parts of the country ceaselessly, it has become even more worrisome with the reports of intercepted instruments of war.

On May 2, 2021, the Ebonyi State Police Command was in the news over the interception of 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG)

meanwhile, the latest of the heightened tension of war is the fear amongst the residents of commercial city of Onitsha Anambra State following the fall of a truck loaded with live bullets in the area.

According to the Nation, the Mercedes Benz 911 truck, which fell along Awka road in the city in the early hours of Sunday, had the cartons of the bullets spill into the drainage when it skidded off the road.

The contents made early morning worshippers to raise the alarm, which attracted the presence of heavy security men who cordoned off the arena

An eyewitness, who does not want to be mentioned, told The Nation the security situation had put everyone on the alert.

It was gathered the truck was moving the goods out of Onitsha to a yet-to-be identified location when the driver lost control and skidded off the road, making it fall into a ditch.

Another source said the truck fell around 5am when the driver and his conductor, after sustaining minor injuries, tried to evacuate and conceal the contents.

“But they could not do much before daybreak when some police operatives arrived the accident scene only to discover the truck was laden with a consignment of live bullets,” a source said.

Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed there was a lone accident at the spot.

On the cartons of bullets allegedly being conveyed by the truck, he said he had not been properly briefed on the situation.

However, he assured investigation had commenced into the matter, promising to get back to the reporter.

But a Senior Police Officer, who spoke with The Nation in confidence, confirmed the incident.

He added the driver of the vehicle had been arrested and the lorry impounded, adding the conductor escaped.

‘We are going to get to the root of the matter. The conductor is equally being trailed. It’s a very difficult times for everybody and people have to be careful,” he said

When NewsTrack Nigeria visited the area in question to get the feelings of the people, there is fear of uncertainty.

According to one of the speakers who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “We have been living in fear. Every day we hear about unknown gunmen burning police stations and killing police. We also hear that Army and Police are killing our people who have not been found to have done anything wrong. Today, I heard about the lorry that fell down with ammunition inside. We saw police people around but we do not know who owns it. I don’t whether they have come to kill all of us. Do you know what it means to have a lorry load of bullets?, he queried.”

Another person who simply gave his name as Chinedu simply called on those called unknown gunmen and the police to be conscious of the innocent people. “If Nigeria will not work, it is not by force, let them sort it out in amicable way instead of killing innocent people. “All these things are politics and somebody like me who is not a politician should not come and die for what I know nothing about. Kpatakpata, they will send their children abroad and leave us poor people to die”, he stated.