Tension in Anambra as 7 Boko Haram Inmates Allegedly Escape From Ekwuluobia Prison

…Southeast Marketers Revolt

At least seven Boko Haram prison inmates have allegedly escaped from Ekwulobia prison, Anambra State, reports www.gozienews.com.

According to an insider, who spoke under condition of anonymity, the seven prisoners sneaked out of the jail yesterday with the help of some unnamed authorities, and headed to unknown destinations.

This is even as another source claimed that the alleged escapees distributed selves to unleash mayhem on Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Delta and Rivers state.

Meanwhile, business activities were paralyzed on Thursday as marketers and traders shut means of livelihood for 24 hours demonstrating over continous stay of Boko Haram suspects at Ekwulobia maximum prison in Anambra State.

Our correspondents, who went through the major streets in five South Eastern States’ reported that no single soul was seen in the markets even as over two million traders under the aegis of South East Amalgamated Traders Association (SEAMATA) took to streets with placards of different inscriptions singing sorrowful songs over federal government negligence to their cries to relocate deposited Boko Haram members as matter of immediacy.

The placards read among other things; “Buhari, Don’t Pollute Our Lands with Boko Haram”; “Southeast is Peaceful, please leave us alone”; “Southeast Governors, please Come to our aid”; “Boko Haramisim is man inhumanity to man, President please take them away from us”.

They sang, “say no to Boko Haram, say no to Boko Haram”; “Iwe newe-anyi…(we are angry), Boko Haram please leave our lands now else we explore”, among other things.

Speaking to newsmen, the President of SEAMATA and leader of the protesters, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo wondered why the suspects were sent to Ekwuluobia prison which is not even a maximum prison.

Chief Ezenwankwo, while stressing that the Boko Haram mission is to cause chaos, tension and deaths, says they reject them with perfect hatred because they perfect man inhumanity to man.

He said they are worst of Boko Haramists imported from Chad and Niger Republic into Ekwuluobia and called on the Southeast governors to join them in the war to return them to north where they belong to because their coming has brought in so many tension in Igbo land as marketers and people are now scampering for safety.

Also speaking, Chief Gozie Akudolu, Coordinator of Traders in the Southeast and Chuma Eluchari, Secretary General of Traders in Anambra State, implored President Muhammadu Buhari to take action instantly as they could not afford to close shops for fourth time after doing repeatedly thrice to draw his attension to their plights.

“Boko Haramists are endangered species. They are terrorists of international repute. We don’t need to harbour them here. We direct international organizations and human rights activists to join them in the advocacy. ”

On his part, Mrs. Promise Ezeigwe, the Woman Leader of Anambra State Market Traders Association explained that business have been shut down indefinitely, people seriously relocating from Anambra to other states in the South South and South West, since intrusion of the insurgents in Anambra.

   

 In an interview with news48hrs.com, the President General, Ekwuluobia Traders and Allied Matters, Fidelis Nnofu disclosed that all primary and secondary schools in Ekwuluobia metropolis, especially those in dormitories have been recalled homes by their parents to avoid a case of Chibok Girls kidnapped in schools.