Robbers sack Anambra community as Residents, college workers flee

Following the incessant cases of robbery in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state, the community and staff of Federal College of Education, Technical, yesterday took to the streets to protest.
The protesters, numbering over 1,000, carried placards and marched to the house of the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Promise Eze and the house of former deputy governor of the state, Emeka Sibeudu.
The protesters also marched to the local government headquarters in the state, chanting war songs and cursing the armed robbers, who according to them, had laid siege to the community.
Last Sunday, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Sunny Ike, died, following gun shots he received from the armed robbers who invaded his house about three weeks ago.
Some of the placards read, ‘life and property no longer safe in Umunze’; ‘fish out thieves in your mist’; ‘enough is enough; stop the killings in Umunze’ and ‘injury to one is injury to many’ among others.
The protest was led by the Chairman of the institution Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Dr. A.T. Nwamaradi, Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) chairman, Alex Okoli and Eze Joachim, the chairman of senior staff union of college of education Nigeria (SSUCOEN).
Though, the lawmaker representing Orumba south constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Nikky Ugochukwu, was not around, but the former deputy governor described the situation as unfortunate.
He said that the administration of Governor Willie Obiano had done well in the area of security, adding that the community was a border town between Imo and Abia states, assuring the protesters that something must be done to arrest the situation.
He said that the community’s vigilante group was doing its best to curtail the activities of the robbers, adding that more efforts should be made to ensure the security of lives and property.
Speaking, the chairman of (COEASU), Dr. A.T Nwamaradi, said as a result of the invasion of the community, staff and students have relocated to neighboring communities for safety.
He said many staff of the college lost property and cash worth millions, adding that some of them had been robbed about nine times.

Photo: former Deputy Governor Anambra , Emeka Sibeudu and SSA Political to Obiano Cy Okereke