Business activities drop in Umuaka as insecurity persists.
3 min read
The famous Afor Umuaka Modern Market and other small markets in Umuaka community have been witnessing poor business activities since insecurity in the South Eastern part of the country got higher. Daily, bank depositors are robbed at gun point on their way from the bank after making huge withdrawals. Motorcycles are also snatched on daily basis and the fear of kidnapping, armed robbery and break and entry has intensified all over the community.
A trader who has a shop in Afor Umuaka who never wanted his name mentioned, told Umuaka Times that no POS agent has up to N40,000 cash at his or her disposal these days due to the activities of armed robbers who now rob POS operators. “Most of the robberies here are not reported because the business owners do not want to attract unnecessary sympathies from the general public, that is why some feel that the insecurity has reduced,” the shop owner told Umuaka Times.
From Umuaka Times findings, many shops, business and service providers in Afor Umuaka market environment now close their businesses and rush home as early as 6 pm every evening. Some even close before then. Ordinarily, there used to be people who would continue to do business till 10 pm or beyond when the state was in total peace.
When Umuaka Times met with some stake holders in the community especially royal fathers on how to checkmate insecurity in the community, two weeks ago, the royal fathers assured the newspaper that the issue of insecurity was being handled by them and the result would soon be made public.
Early last week, Umuaka Times reported the story of a young man who was burnt to death at Orie Ugbele Market while on an alleged stealing expedition with his colleague who was lucky enough to have escaped. From that time till date, violent crimes seem to have taken centre stage in Umuaka. Just last week, someone had his motorcycle snatched at gun point while another had his Venza car also snatched at gun point. There were other crimes that took place also within the past week that were not reported.
An incident which may perhaps be described as the worst security scenario in the community was when someone took to his Facebook Live page last week and even posted his fake broadcast on YouTube, claiming that Nigerian soldiers have invaded Umuaka community and were killing innocent civilians. This sent shock waves across the globe as Akalites in many parts of the world called their families to confirm the authenticity of the broadcast. At last, it was discovered that the news was false. The guy making the broadcast was not even an Akalite according to Umuaka Times findings. No person from Umuaka town describes the community as “Umuaka Orlu” but the broadcaster and false alarmist, referred to Umuaka in his broadcast as “Umuaka Orlu.”
The escalating fear of insecurity is not limited to business owners alone. Motorcycle boys who recklessly drive their motorcycles to the late hours of every night just for the fun of feel good effects, no longer engage in such activities because they fear that they may as well be attacked and their motorcycles snatched.
In general terms, business activities have dropped and this scenario has in several ways created financial problems to many families as a double jeopardy considering the unending economic hardship the country has faced in the last six years. Those who spoke to Umuaka Times appealed to the people in charge to sue for peace and arrest the insecurity in the South East for the people to start living their normal lives again.
