the
threat by the secterian
group, Boko Haram, asking
Christians in the Northern
part of the country to leave
the area within three days,
an ultimatum that expired
yesterday, many northerners
residing in various parts of
Anambra State have been
deserting their places of
business and fleeing to
unknown places.
Though there was no threat
to their lives whatsoever in
any part of the state, some of
them said they did not want
to take chances, in view of
the warning by the Boko
Haram sect.
In Awka, most of the
northerners who serve as
security guards and foreign
exchange traders were seen
moving in groups to the
border town of Amansea in
Awka which has a large
concentration of
northerners.
It was not clear yesterday if
they intended to depart the
state completely, but many
house holds that engaged
their services said they
returned from New Year
celebration only to discover
that their guards had
abandoned their duty posts.
At a popular residential
estate in Awka GRA, the
northerners guarding the
area approached their
employers yesterday
demanding that they be paid
off because they were afraid
to continue with the job. Not
even the assurances of the
residents could make them
change their mind as they
moved out soon after
collecting their money.
Suya spots in the town have
also disappeared, while
some of the popular yam,
onion and tomato markets
did not have commodities
yesterday because the trailer
drivers bringing them did
not come.
One of the guards,
Mohammed, said: “It is not
that we do not like to remain
here. The reason we want to
leave is due to the threat by
Boko Haram which made our
people to ask us to return
immediately.”
He, however, promised that
they would come back when
the situation of things
normalized.
The popular Bridge Head
goat market in Onitsha has
also been deserted as the
northerners selling in the
market could not be seen. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/01/northerners-flee-anambra-over-fear-of-reprisal/