In Umunze, a town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Sunday morning took a terrifying turn as armed soldiers stormed several churches, dispersing congregants and halting services. The soldiers imposed a strict ban on church gatherings, movement, and market activities, leaving the community in a state of fear and uncertainty.
Eyewitness Obika Ezeka described how the situation escalated at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, where gunshots rang out as worshippers gathered for the 6 am Mass. The congregation was startled when a soldier approached the altar, ordering everyone to vacate the premises. The soldier, whose identity remains unknown, reportedly informed the worshippers that they were being punished because their colleagues had been killed by gunmen on Thursday night, leading to a lockdown of the town.
The soldiers also targeted Holy Rosary Catholic Church and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, similarly disrupting services and expelling parishioners, including clergy. At St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Lomu Umunze, another eyewitness, Ejike, recounted how soldiers interrupted a Bible Study session, commanding the teacher to stop and directing the congregation to leave.
Reports suggest that some male worshippers were subjected to physical assault by the soldiers, who used canes and belts to enforce their orders. Additionally, several individuals, including commercial cyclists and drivers, were detained and compelled to demolish a building used as an office for tipper drivers. The once-bustling Nkwo Market quickly emptied as traders scrambled to close their shops, turning the area into a ghost town.
A distressed mother, Nze Euphemia, expressed her frustration, noting that the abrupt market closure left many without access to food or essential supplies. She criticized the soldiers for not announcing a curfew, which would have allowed residents to prepare.
The situation in Umunze has been precarious for some time, with rising criminal activity plaguing the town. Over 15 people have reportedly been kidnapped recently, with ransoms paid for their release. Criminals have also targeted businesses, such as a phone-charging center, where they stole all the devices. A local resident called on the government to establish military checkpoints along key escape routes used by the kidnappers.
A recent viral video highlighted the presence of armed criminals entering Umunze and Ogbunka, yet no significant security measures were put in place. The tension escalated last Thursday night when a gun battle broke out between soldiers and gunmen on the Umunze-Ogbunka Road, resulting in the deaths of two soldiers. This confrontation, along with claims made by Simon Ekpa, a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who praised the Biafran Defence Force for allegedly neutralizing soldiers in Umunze, has raised concerns about the involvement of secessionist groups in the violence.
