Many people including some soldiers were reportedly killed yesterday when a reign of terror was unleashed on the South East geopolitical zone.
Vehicles and Keke Napep were also set ablaze by rampaging terrorists during the enforcement of a sit-at-home order by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB had earlier in the month announced that there would be a sit-at-home on May 30, across the South-East states, to mark what they called ‘Biafra Heroes Day’, which is celebrated annually in the region.
Streets in major towns of Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states were deserted even as commercial activities were grounded across the region.
During the rampage, some military men were attacked at Obikabia junction in Aba, Abia State, by over 15 masked gunmen who also set their patrol van on fire.
A trending video showed the assailants shooting sporadically before setting the military van ablaze.
Commenting on the incident, a male voice was heard saying: “This army man is the only surviving person here. He was the only person that ran away.
“Does anybody here have a motorcycle?” another person in the video asked.
Witnesses said the gunmen operated with an SUV jeep and a Sienna bus.
Another eyewitness said casualties were recorded during the gun duel but there was no official confirmation yet on the actual number of those killed or injured.
Another video showed how some vehicles and tricycles were set ablaze in Igboeze South of Enugu State.
In Imo State, two persons were reportedly shot dead as residents obeyed the sit-at-home order.
Witnesses said they were killed in Okwe community in Onuimo Local Government Area of the state.
One of those killed by the assailants was Nbechi Ndu, a former councillor in the area.
The spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, had not responded to an inquiry from our correspondent as of the time of filing of this report.
Banks, markets, shops, companies, and corporate establishments in the state capital were shut.
The ever busy Douglas, Owerri – Okigwe, Okigwe Road, Control Junction, Orji, World Bank, Egbu road and others in the state capital were shadows of themselves.
The Umuonyeali Wood Market, Naza Industrial Market, Alaba International Market, Relief Market, and Owerri main market were all shut.
A resident, Kingsley Madu said that it was better to sit at home than to go to his shop and meet his death.
An artisan, Samuel Kalu said that he would continue to observe any sit-at-home order issued by IPOB in the region. Our correspondent reports that there was total compliance by residents of Ebonyi State yesterday with the sit-at-home order.
Banks, shops, filling stations, including private and public schools, markets, government and private offices were under lock and key. There was no vehicular movement as travellers were left stranded.
The situation, as learnt, caused the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to postpone its 5-man delegate congress election scheduled to hold yesterday across the 13 local government areas of the state.
