…As Residents Cry Out
Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Some residents of Oyigbo are still crying over the suffering they were subjected to during post-EndSARS protest period.
In a chat with TPCN today, they lamented that most of them suffered starvation and sustained serious injuries because of the stray bullets from security agents during the curfew, adding that some people even died.
“We could not buy food to eat. One boy was hit by bullet. It passed through the back of his neck and went and hit the wall. If you see the hole the bullet made on the wall, then you will know that the gun they used was a sophisticated gun. But the boy did not die. What saved him was that the bullet did not touch his neck bone; it pierced the right side of his neck, entered through the flesh and came out and hit the wall. If not that the father of the boy is not around, I would have taken you to their house for you to see the hole the bullet made on their wall. This boy am telling you is about 18 or 19 years, His name is Nkasimmadu,” said one of the residents.
He added: “They have taken him to their village to treat him. It’s like they’re from Imo or Abia State. The father is a very poor man that was just managing to survive with his children. I don’t think their mother is around. Uptil now, nobody is talking about this matter, but we’re praying that God will help him to survive. The government should please help the boy and his family. Many people suffered injuries from bullets during that curfew because the soldiers were just shooting anyhow. But thank God the governor stopped the curfew.”
Another resident, who said he sells handset accessories near the Oyigbo Market, briefly narrated how a member of the National Youth Service Corps was hit by a stray bullet. He said the stray bullet killed the youth corper.
“This one happened before my own eyes. The guy is a youth corper from Imo State. That day, he went to barb his hair, along this Old Aba Road. After barbing his hair, he came out and before we knew it, they started shooting and people started running. One of the bullets hit the guy on his back and he fell down and died. We have even gone for condolence visit to the family. His father is a pastor in Bayelsa,” he said.
Asked if the victim has been buried, the resident, who identified himself as Onyema, answered in the negative, adding: “He’s still in the mortuary. But we have gone to pay the family condolence visit. Many things happened during that time. Had it been that this public hearing is holding today, you people would have heard from people what they suffered. Many families are crying as am talking to you now but nobody to help them.”
The Nigeria Bar Association was supposed to hold a public hearing on the crisis that rocked the area at the Oyigbo Town Hall today but it was postponed.
Governor Nyesom Wike had declared a 24-hour curfew on Oyigbo and also ordered that IPOB members should be fished out wherever they are in the state and be brought to book.
Following the imposition of the curfew, security agents moved in to enforce it. But the curfew has since been lifted.
