Two killed as gunmen enforce sit-at-home order in Enugu

The pandemonium on Saturday morning caused by heavy shooting in the Enugu metropolis was said to have been caused by the death of two persons in the city..

This was linked to gunmen trying to enforce a sit-at-home directive around the new market area.

A witness said a police van was set on fire by the hoodlums and twi people were shot dead during the attack.

The source said the gunmen, numbering over 10, had stormed the New Market area as early as 6am probably to shut down the market but were confronted by some policemen patrolling the market area to reassure traders of their safety.

He said the hoodlums engaged the policemen in a gun duel and eventually succeeded in setting ablaze their vehicle

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command Ahmed Ammani, in a statement on Saturday, said orders have been given to Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Commanders of all the Tactical/Operational Units to ensure the maximum deployment of intelligence and operational resources at their disposal.

The police authorities also instructed their men to effectively patrol and fish out miscreants that may want to disturb public peace and security and disrupt the businesses and otherwise activities of law-abiding citizens, under the guise of enforcing illegitimate sit-at-home order.

The CP has reassured that the Command, collaborating with other security agencies and law-abiding citizens, will never rest in ensuring that the lives and property of the citizenry are protected against the undesirable activities of criminal elements, hellbent on causing unwarranted havoc to fellow citizens.

The Commissioner urged all and sundry to remain vigilant, go about their lawful businesses and resist succumbing to the antics of the miscreants, including the spread of tension-causing fake news.

He urged residents to continue to support and cooperate with the Police and other security agencies in their unwavering quest to quell the activities of criminal elements.

He said normalcy has since been restored at the New Market axis of Enugu and a crack team of Police Operatives deployed to hunt down the armed hoodlums, who shot sporadically and breached public peace in the area.