The tranquil town of Ezzamgbo in Ebonyi State was shattered by the sound of gunshots as suspected militants from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) unleashed chaos on Monday.
This incident occurred in the hometown of Friday Ekpa, who is based in Finland and has been perceived as a leader of the outlawed group in the absence of Nnamdi Kanu, currently facing terrorism charges.
IPOB had previously prohibited the celebration of Independence Day in the South East and took actions to enforce this directive.
In the recent attack, traders were targeted, and vehicles were set ablaze at the prominent Ezzamgbo Junction along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
The assailants also set fire to shops, motorbikes, and tricycles, causing extensive damage to properties belonging to some traders who had opened their businesses.
This is not the first instance of such drastic measures taken by the group to enforce a sit-at-home order in certain areas of the state. Presently, many residents and traders have shut their shops and sought refuge amidst the chaos.
Chukwuma Apama, a resident who confirmed the incident, described the hoodlums’ actions as having instilled tension in the area.
Meanwhile, in Abakaliki, the state capital, shops, filling stations, and various business establishments were open and operational, including motorcycle operators and Keke (tricycle) riders.
Earlier, IPOB had issued stern warnings against anyone defying its sit-at-home directive on Monday.
The outlawed group also cautioned schools and companies against commemorating Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary, insisting that the Nigerian flag should not be flown during the event.
In response to the attacks, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the spokesperson for the Ebonyi Police Command, stated that the police were actively pursuing the perpetrators.
She reported that on October 2, armed individuals suspected to be IPOB/ESN members carried out the attack using a Sienna car.
She said that they targeted commuter buses, tricycles, and motorcycles at Ezzangbo junction, resulting in the destruction of three commuter buses, four motorcycles, and one tricycle. “Fortunately, no lives were lost in the incident.”
