Incessant attacks by masked gunmen have forced residents of Orsumoghu in Ihiala council of Anambra State to flee into the bushes.

It was said that the masked attackers come in the night, shooting and forcibly taking young men away.

It was unclear who the masked gunmen were or who they worked for.

Some of the residents, who spoke withThe Nationyesterday, said the attackers left a note in some homes where they did not see anyone, saying they would visit again.

The latest of such attacks, according to the residents, happened at the weekend, at about 2.15am.

A resident, simply identified as Salome, toldThe Nationthat the gunmen moved from house to house, shooting intermittently.

They were picking every young man they came across. They shot one person dead.

“We don’t know the whereabouts or number of those they took away.

“They left a note that they would be back again in three days’ time and because of this, our people, especially the men, who don’t have anywhere to run to, have been forced to be sleeping in the bushes at night in order not to be caught unawares,” Okalawa said.

The Nationgathered that some prominent persons in the area and neighbouring communities have left for other areas.

Another resident said it would be unwise to celebrate Christmas in the area.

Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu toldThe Nationthere was no cause for alarm, adding that the security agencies were constantly patrolling the area to keep the hoodlums at bay.(Text, excluding headline courtesy The Nation)