By Oge Onyeanusi, Onitsha
It was a black Monday for residents and street traders at Obanye, Iboku and Old market roads in Onitsha, Anambra State, as daredevil tricycle (keke ) armed robbers robbed over 50 of them.
This paper gathered that the robbers, riding in two tricycles at about 8.00am on the fateful day, first stormed Iboku/Obanye junction where they robbed whoever that was within reach.
According to a victim who simply identified himself as Onyeka, “I was passing through this Old market road this morning (Monday) when two tricycles that have gun and machete welding occupants attacked us, before you know what was happening they ordered me and two others to surrender what we have at gun-point”
“They collected my handset, #4.000, ATM card and wrist watch and ordered me to run away as they faced the two others”
“They were up to eight in those two tricycles and only two rushed to us wjile others faced other victims.
They were very fast in the operation and so many were robbed within five minutes that they faced Obanye street. The robbers after robbing Obanye residents they turned to Old market road, robbed everybody at a spot called ‘Ukwu Fruit’, over 15 were tobbed there”
Another victim, Mrs Okam Echerem, who disclosed that she lives in Okpoko stated that, “they collected the whole money that I had on me which I wanted to use for purchases at the main market, about #25,000.
I boarded tricycle from peace park at Upper Iweka to main market and on approaching post office we rammed into the robbers and they robbed the three of us, passengers”
“Government should do someting now because the tricycle armed robbers I was told, operate on daily basis and nobody challenges them. The police no longer come out or respond to distress calls. We are in trouble”
Also an eye witness who pleaded anonymity revealed that, “Onitsha is bad now, keke armed robbers have taken over Onitsha, Nkpor and environs. They robbed over 50 in Onitsha in different locations”
At Nkpor junction once it is 7pm every body will be on the run just like it happened here today (Monday)”
“If not for the vigilante groups by now we would have gone to the villages. May God save us from these men of underworld”.
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