Two killed, scores injured as militants invade A’Ibom market

Gunmen suspected to be militants have killed two women and injured scores of others at T-Junction Market, Itu, in the Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Monday, gathered that the militants struck at the market around 8am on Saturday.

An eyewitness and cyclist, Mr. Moses Philips, told PUNCH Metro that the militants, who wore military uniforms, emerged from the river on two speedboats loaded with machine guns and other weapons.

He stated that as soon as the militants’ boats berthed at the river bank, they shot into the air indiscriminately.

Philips said the militants blocked all avenues leading into the busy market for hours.

He added that many of the people wounded were not actually touched by bullets from the militants’ firearms, but got injured due to a stampede which was caused by frantic traders and customers.

The eyewitness stated that one of the deceased women was just coming into the market when the bullet from the militants’ guns hit her in the head. He added that the other woman, whom the bullet pierced through her thigh, died on the way to the hospital.

He stated that the militants pillaged market stalls, shops and even those trading on the roadside. He noted that the thieves only stole food items and fuel in drums.

“The militants ordered motorcycle operators and other young men and women to carry all the things they had stolen into their boats. The items they stole were essentially food items like rice; garri; fish; crayfish; palm oil.

“They also carried fuel stored in drums which we believe they will use in the creeks. It is unfortunate that the two women died. The militants did not shoot into the crowd, they shot only into the air but what I believe is that the bullets that killed the women, were stray bullets,” he said.

He stated that the policemen including soldiers went to the scene after the bandits had left.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, confirmed the attack but denied the number of casualties.

She stated that the Akwa Ibom State Police had already mapped out strategies to curtail attacks by the militants. She said the command had also reached out to commands in other states to block their waterways against militants’ infiltration into Akwa Ibom.

She said, “While there was an attack by militants at the T-Junction Market in Itu, I do not agree with the number of casualties. As soon as the incident happened, the police were quickly mobilised and they repelled the attack.

 PUNCH.