By Becky Usman

Imo State – Gunmen suspected to be enforcing the week-long sit-at-home order issued by a faction of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have caused bloodshed in Imo State. Yesterday, they shot and killed a commercial tricyclist and a passerby in the densely populated area of Akwakuma, Owerri North Local Council.

In another incident over the weekend, unidentified hoodlums set fire to part of a local market in Amaraku and burned vehicles in Isiala Mbano Local Council. The attackers targeted those who failed to comply with the sit-at-home order.

Furthermore, they set fire to numerous goods at Obolo Market in the same council. The victims had reportedly been warned earlier but ignored the threats.

Eyewitnesses described the gunmen as highly dangerous when they carried out the attacks. They arrived at the busy Akwakuma Junction in a Sienna vehicle, firing shots into the air and causing people who were trying to earn a living to flee for safety. The tricyclist was shot in the chest and died, while a passerby was also struck by a bullet and lost their life.

Despite efforts to reach him, the State Police Spokesperson, Henry Okoye, had not responded to the incident at the time of filing this report.