The term Unknown Gunmen (UGM) was coined when countless terrorist attacks were carried out this year, 2021, in the South East without any organization or group claiming responsibility. Although IPOB and ESN are usually accused, they always deny responsibilities and the media have tolled the safe line of referring to them as unknown gunmen or just gunmen
This series of attacks have been targeted mainly on government agencies and facilities and prominent people across the South East region and its environs as Rivers State has also been targeted.
The menace of the Unknown Gunmen has continued unabated in the South East since earlier this year and countless measures have been put in place by the State governments of the region to help check these security issues but all to no avail.
One of the measures put in place was the formation of a South Eastern Security apparatus named the Ebubeagu Security Network which has had no significant impact on the security issues facing the region.
In this post, we are not talking about the impact but outlining all the facilities attacked by the gunmen in the South East. We divided them into five broad sections. Note that we didn’t include police stations as there is a separate post on that.
Correctional Facilities/Prisons
The dawn of Gunmen attacks recently in the South East came when a correctional facility/prison was attacked by Gunmen in Imo State on the 5th day of April, 2021 which was on a Monday. This was perhaps the heaviest attack on Federal Facilities or prisons in recent times of unknown Gunmen as more than 1,000 inmates were reportedly freed from the prison.
According to witnesses, unknown Gunmen stormed the premises in Hilux vans and busses, gained access to the prison by breaking through the gates with explosives after engaging the officers in a fierce gunfight.
Read this – All the police facilities attacked by unknown gunmen, Part 1
This isn’t the only attack on prison facilities and properties as unknown Gunmen attacked a transportation van taking prisoners to court in an attack that saw two prison warders killed in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA, Anambra State. This attack was carried out on the 19th day of March 2021 around 11 am.
Directorate Of State Services (DSS)
The DSS was not exempt from the attacks of the Unknown Gunmen on security set-ups in the country. On the 3rd of October, 2021, a Sunday, four SUV cars drove into a DSS office in Nnewi, Anambra State, and opened fire on them.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen drove through a junction at Nnewi popularly known as Emecourt Road junction where they made people run for their lives after several gunshots. They were to head to the DSS office where there was an exchange of fire between the DSS officers and the Unknown Gunmen. According to sources, there was no casualty from both sides but a passerby was hit by a stray bullet.
Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)
The same day in which the offices of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) were attacked in Nnewi, 3rd of October, 2021, the FRSC office was also attacked by unknown gunmen.
The Police Force of Anambra State when contacted confirmed there were attacks and arson targeted at these Federal facilities on the same day.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Offices
The month of May, 2021 was perhaps the most critical month for INEC in terms of security in the South East.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is one of the government facilities in Nigeria that is most targeted in the South East and the country at large. INEC has blamed hoodlums and the UGM about the incessant attacks being carried out on government properties and agencies.
The timeline of the attacks on security apparatuses are as follows:
On the 9th day of May, 2021, an attack was launched by unknown Gunmen on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Office located at Ohaffia LGA of Abia State.
The Gunmen made sure to burn the offices after the attack and made away from the scene.
This was just one of the many attacks on INEC offices and set up as unknown Gunmen also attacked the commission’s office at Enugu State on the 13th day of May, 2021.
This attack was carried out at Obollo-Afor in Udenu local government of Enugu State and this saw the complete burning down of the office.
On May 14, in a night attack by unknown Gunmen, five Hillux vans belonging to INEC were reportedly burnt in Awka, Anambra State.
Two days later, the INEC facility in Enugu State, was attacked, searched, and burnt with vehicles.
Read, also – All the police facilities attacked by unknown gunmen, Part 2
On the 23rd of May, an INEC office in Ahiazu Mbaise and Igbo-Eze local government areas of Enugu State were attacked simultaneously. These and many more others were INEC facilities attacked by unknown Gunmen in the South East.
Hospitals
On the 3rd day of October, 2021, the residents of Anambra wake up to a terrifying attack carried by the popular UGM on a hospital. While the reason for attacking the hospital was not attained, it was however reported that the Gunmen stormed Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi and started shooting sporadically resulting in the injury of a single person.
Although no one was killed, the reason why they attacked the hospital is yet to be known up to this month as they have only been attacking only security apparatuses or Federal facilities.
The menace of the Unknown Gunmen has continued in the South East and the security forces have been the most hit.
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Written by Prince Chime, Nsukka
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