Onitsha Is Now A Deadly Jungle According To Timothy Ofoegbu: A Warning To Our Friends That Will Travel To Or Through Onitsha This Christmas Period -By Muhammad Sani Isah

I spent 8 days at Onitsha since last week and my heart is bleeding for the once golden commercial city that was the pride of the whole Africa. I am not talking of infrastructural decay that is there for the blind to see but the total break down of law and order. Militia groups, armed thugs, mafia Lords and robbers roam and operate in the city without fear or citizens resistance. Phones, bags, jewelry and others are snatched openly. I was accosted by four young men while I was with the goods that I bought for my mother in laws burial. They demanded 2K. I politely told them that I am a mad prophet that lost his mother and showed them the burial ceremony invitation. I told that if I give them the 2k, they will use money to buy their coffins, they allowed me to go. Less than 500 meters, two young men stopped the Keke again and demanded 3K. I told them bluntly that I will not give them any money. One seized a carton of wine and took off with it. I have to literally pursue, overtake and recover all. We had a scuffle that left my cloth torn. But he knew that he met a someone from generation of warriors. No one came to my rescue. Those around even rebuked me for challenging them saying that it is now normal to pay thugs for your goods in wheel barrow, Keke or vehicle in Onitsha. That I should have given them 500 Naira for peace to reign.

Those of you that will cross Onitsha this Christmas and New Year holiday, please never ever display your phones, jewelry or bags. And have enough cash to pay the boys for your goods and baggage because there is no presence of Government or police in Onitsha