A relative of a victim of the ongoing violence in the South-East has revealed that the so-called “unknown gunmen” terrorising communities are not faceless assailants but known individuals within the affected areas.
Speaking during a forum organised by Amnesty International in Enugu, the victim’s relative, Mr. Nduka Ozor, recounted how his brother was abducted and killed in 2022 in Imo State by men he described as locals.
According to Ozor, fear and intimidation have kept residents from exposing the perpetrators, who continue to operate unchecked.
“The people referred to as ‘unknown gunmen’ are very well known in the community, but no one dares to speak,” Ozor said.
He detailed the extent of the brutality suffered by residents, describing a reign of terror that has left many traumatised and displaced.
“Property worth millions of naira was destroyed, and many people disappeared. When they kill, they cut off the heads and display them in the marketplace. If they enter your shop and take what they want, you never dare to ask for money,” he recounted.
Ozor further revealed that residents are often forced to pay the gunmen large sums of money to conduct basic social events such as weddings and burials.
“People are forced to pay between ₦300,000 and ₦500,000 to get permission from the gunmen to hold burials or wedding ceremonies,” he said.
Amnesty International, in an earlier report shared via X, highlighted the growing insecurity in the South-East region. According to the organisation, at least 1,844 people were killed between January 2021 and June 2023 by gunmen, vigilantes, and criminal gangs.
The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr. Isa Sanusi, linked the persistent violence to “an endless cycle of bloodshed” that followed government crackdowns on pro-Biafra movements.
Victims and witnesses described the attackers as heavily armed men carrying guns, cutlasses, and machetes, warning that anyone who attempted to resist was often killed.
The chilling account shared by Ozor and Amnesty International underscores the continuing threat posed by armed groups in the region and the urgent need for effective security interventions.
— Hobnob News
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