Panic and fear gripped Christian worshippers in Umunze, Orumba North Local Government Area, Anambra State on Sunday, when armed soldiers stormed different churches in the morning hours and dispersed the congregation in their places of worship.

The soldiers took over the community with a stern warning that no church service, movement or market would be allowed in the area till further notice.

A witness, Obika Ezeka, said they were traumatised when they heard gunshots at St. Josephs Catholic Church as worshippers arrived for the 6am Mass.

She said they were waiting for the priest to begin the Mass when one of the armed soldiers marched to the altar and asked everybody to leave the church.

According to her, the soldier, whose identity could not be ascertained, told the congregation that their colleagues were murdered on Thursday night by gunmen in the town, and there would be no movement or market till further notice.

Similarly, several armed soldiers invaded Holy Rosary Catholic Church, and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, disrupted the service and ordered parishioners, including priests, to leave.

Another witness, who identified himself as Ejike, said the soldiers came to St. Peters Anglican Church, Lomu Umunze, when a teacher was moderating the Bible Study, asked him to drop the microphone and ordered everybody out of the church.

An unconfirmed report said some of the soldiers brazenly descended on male worshippers with canes and belts for resisting their unlawful invasion of the places of worship.

It was reported that some people, including commercial cyclists and drivers found on the road on Sunday were arrested and forced to pull down a building that served as office for tipper drivers. The community quickly turned to a ghost town, as traders hurriedly locked their shops at the busy Nkwo Market.

A stranded mother, Nze Euphemia, lamented that the sudden shutdown of the market left many people starving, with no food at home. She said the soldiers would have announced a curfew so that people could buy essential food items and drugs before the sudden lockdown.

A native of Umunze said the town has been under siege by criminals that operate from neighbouring states.

According to him, more than 15 people have been kidnapped in Umunze in recent time, and huge sums of money paid as ransom before they were released.

The hoodlums recently attacked a public phone-charging centre in the town and carted away all the phones. He pleaded with the government to set up military checkpoints on Umuchu and Ogbunka roads, which have become the escape route for the kidnappers and gunmen terrorising the town.

The military checkpoints at Nawfia and Ihitte, according to him, cannot safeguard the long stretch of road from Umuchu to Ogbunka, thereby allowing kidnappers and notorious gunmen to terrorise Umunze town and escape to neighbouring states.

A viral video had emerged some weeks ago, which revealed that criminals were creeping into Umunze and Ogbunka towns with their weapons to terrorise the area. Despite the warnings, no visible security measures were taken to safeguard the volatile areas.

Further investigation by Daily Sun revealed that a fierce gun battle broke out between soldiers and gunmen on Thursday night. An unconfirmed report said the gunmen were seen at about 8.30pm speeding along the Umunze-Ogbunka Road, jumping the bumps and barricades in a black jeep. People selling by the roadside quickly closed their shops, thinking they were kidnappers on the prowl.

A few minutes later, soldiers arrived the area in a patrol vehicle and it was reported that a terrifying gun battle ensued hours later. In what seemed like a night of terror, dead silence prevailed in the town, and residents trembled in fear. It was reported that two soldiers lost their lives in the gun duel.

Shortly after the incident, Indigenous People of Biafra Leader, Simon Ekpa, took to the social media X to hail the tactical unit of the Biafran Defence Force, fuelling speculations that the attack was masterminded by the secessionist group. He bragged that the Biafran Libration Army and other Defence Forces neutralised soldiers at Umunze, which possibly led to the large deployment of soldiers to the area. (Daily Sun)