Three persons have been reported dead in Anambra and Imo states, Southeast Nigeria, following a sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The order, IPOB claimed, was to protest the arrest and detention of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, who is standing charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and management of an unlawful society.
In Nnewi, Anambra State, three buses were set ablaze by members of the IPOB’s armed wing (Eastern Security Network), The Punch newspaper reported.
“They were singing and shouting: ‘today is Sit-at-home. Anything sighted, even if it’s a fly, must be destroyed,” an eyewitness was quoted as saying by the newspaper. “There were gunshots around Izuchukwu Park junction around 6 am.”
“We couldn’t believe our eyes when we came out to see two lifeless bodies of young men. Yet, nobody could explain who was responsible.” Ikenga Tochukwu, the State Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident to HumAngle said details of the incident were still sketchy.
“I can confirm to you that there was an incident in Nnewi roundabout. We had a distress call that there was an incident there and we quickly mobilized our men to the area but I don’t have the full details yet,” the police spokesperson said.
“Police operatives have been deployed to restore peace, I will provide further information when I get them please,” he added.
HumAngle gathered there was total compliance to the Sit-at-home order in Nnewi and Onitsha areas of the state as banks, shops and markets were under lock as well as other southeastern states.
In Nkwogu, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, a similar trend was reported. A passenger was reportedly burnt alive in a bus for flouting the sit-at-home order by the separatists.
A source in Owerri, the state capital, who did not want his name mentioned for security reasons, confirmed the incident to HumAngle, saying the victim was in one of the three buses travelling from Umaiha, Abia State and were razed by the IPOB separatists.
“While other commuters scampered for safety, it was late for the victim,” the source said, adding that tensions were mounting following the violence.
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