The soldiers declared a strict prohibition on church services, movement, and market activities in the area until further notice.

During the 6am Mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, worshippers were alarmed by gunshots as armed soldiers arrived and instructed everyone to vacate the church.

In a similar manner, armed soldiers disrupted the service at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, compelling parishioners and even priests to leave.

At St. Peter's Anglican Church, Lomu Umunze, armed soldiers interrupted a Bible Study session and ordered everyone to leave the church premises.

Reportedly, some of the soldiers used force against male worshippers who resisted their unauthorized intrusion into the places of worship.

In addition, individuals including commercial cyclists and drivers found on the road on Sunday were apprehended, and later coerced to demolish a building used as an office for tipper drivers. As a result, the community quickly became deserted, with traders hurriedly locking their shops at the bustling Nkwo Market.

A distressed mother, Nze Euphemia, lamented the sudden closure of the market, leaving many people without access to food, essential items, and medication at home. She suggested that the soldiers could have announced a curfew to allow people to purchase essential supplies before the emergency lockdown.

A native of Umunze disclosed that the town has been under siege from criminals operating from neighboring states, citing over 15 recent kidnappings and substantial ransom payments.

The native appealed to the government to establish military checkpoints on Umuchu and Ogbunka roads, which serve as the escape routes for kidnappers and gunmen terrorizing the town.

According to the native, the existing military checkpoints at Nawfia and Ihitte are insufficient to secure the extended stretch of road from Umuchu to Ogbunka, allowing kidnappers and notorious gunmen to terrorize Umunze town and flee to neighboring states.

A viral video surfaced weeks ago, revealing that criminals were infiltrating Umunze and Ogbunka towns with weapons to instill terror in the area. Despite these warnings, no visible security measures were implemented to safeguard these volatile areas.

Further investigation by Daily Sun uncovered a fierce gun battle between soldiers and gunmen on Thursday night. Additionally, an unconfirmed report indicated that gunmen were spotted speeding along the Umunze-Ogbunka Road in a black jeep at about 8:30 pm, causing panic among the locals.