By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Some youths of Ogbunike community in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State alleged to be ex-convicts on Monday invaded the community, shooting indiscriminately, attacking people and stealing phones, money and ATM cards.

The attackers numbering about 20 who are said to have been recently released from jail after serving their terms.

One of their main targets was the home of late Pa Samuel Okwudili Nwosu at Ifite Ogbunike whose funeral is slated to hold in January next year. They attacked workers carrying out renovation work on the buildings in the compound.

At least 17 persons were injured during the rampage while two persons who were badly injured were taken to a local hospital, but it is not clear if they would survive the bullet wounds on them.

Narrating their ordeal in the hands of the gunmen, the Nwosus’ contractor, Mr Egwim Ogomegbunam, said: “I was at the compound with two of my workers and six labourers when they came into the compound shooting anyhow and people started running away. They attacked me with matchet and wounded me at my left hand and my back.

“They were many I think about 20 of them and we could not defend ourselves. After that they came back again and attacked more people who thought that they had gone.”

On his part, the senior son of late Pa Samuel Okwudili Nwosu, Mr Ekenechukwu Anthony Nwosu, who was with his younger brother at the compound when the incident occurred, said: “We were inside one of the buildings when we heard shootings and we had to hide for safety and was watching what was going on and the criminals came into the compound and were shooting and attacking people.

“They attacked the workers in our home and after that they came back and attacked some other compounds and them as they were going they were robbing villagers collecting phones, money and ATM cards.

“The thing that shocked us was that they are youths from our community who we already know as criminals and most of them are ex-convicts who were recently released from prison after serving their jail terms.”

Ekenechukwu disclosed that the community has made official complaints with the Police State Criminal Investigation Department at Awkuzu, adding that the department has commenced investigation on the incident.

Meanwhile, many of the villagers have fled the community for fear of another attack by the gunmen.