Unidentified gunmen last week attacked some members of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in Anambra State.
The union said the attack on five of its members at Otu Junction, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, occurred on Wednesday May 25.
MWUN President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said the five union members were on their way to an official assignment organised by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) when they were shot by the unknown gunmen.
“Martine Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) wish to inform the general public of the unwarranted ambush, shooting, maiming and infliction of injury on five of our officials who were going for an official assignment on Wednesday 25 May 2022 at Otu Junction, Nnewi South, Anambra State by unknown gunmen.
“They were traveling in their official National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) branded Hilux when they were attacked on the reason that they strayed into Biafra land in a Nigeria branded sport utility vehicle.
“Reportedly, three bullets were extracted by the medical team from the neck of one of the attacked officials, who was rushed to the Nnewi General Hospital. We commend the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, Dr. George Moghalu for his prompt response, which enabled medical assistance to our injured members.
“At this very sensitive period in the life of Nigerians, we find the incessant, unprovoked, and persistent attacks on innocent Nigerians and the working masses by those who claim to be unknown gunmen as not only extrajudicial and barbaric but also a pointer to the failure of the security apparatus and of the state to live up to its primary function of providing protection for its citizens.
“Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria wish to call on government to live up to its primary duty of providing guaranteed security for its citizens, especially working masses who must out of necessity move from one state of the country to conduct their business.
“This seeming insensitivity of government to the suffering plight of its citizens and the working masses is not only an affront to our need to survive but more on our right to life and existence.
“The issue of unknown gunmen should be tackled and managed so as to guarantee the need of citizens to move from one part of the country to the other,” Comrade Adeyanju said in a statement made available to SHIPS & PORTS.