Five members of the Maritime Workers union of Nigeria (MWUN), who are also officials of the Nigerian Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA), have been attacked by gunmen in Anambra State, leaving them with gunshot injuries.
The workers were reportedly attacked on Wednesday 25th May 2022 at Otu Junction, Nnewi South, Anambra State, while going for an official assignment.
The victims were said to be receiving treatment at the Nnewi General Hospital where doctors succeeded in extracting bullets from the neck of one of the victims.
President-General of the MWUN, Comrade Adeyanju Adewale, who confirmed the attack, said: “They were travelling in their official NIWA branded Hilux when they were attacked for straying into Biafra land in a Nigeria branded sport utility vehicle. Three bullets were extracted by the medical team, from the neck of one of the officials rushed to the Nnewi General Hospital.
Adeyanju commended the quick reponse of the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, which made medical attention prompt. He also used the opportunity to call on the Government to live up to its responsibility of protecting lives of citizens in the country.
He said: “We commend the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr. George Moghalu, for his prompt response which enabled quick 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 wishes 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 another to conduct their business.
“This seeming insensitivity of Governments 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 maritime workers union chief sought government’s focus on the issue of attacks on innocent citizens, in order to enable free and safe movements of people across the country.
