Gunmen block Owerri-Okigwe road, kill travellers, burn several vehicles

Gunmen, reportedly killed travellers and set ablaze several vehicles on the Okigwe-Owerri Road, in Imo State.

The number of human casualties was yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

While some sources claimed over 35 vehicles were burnt, others said no fewer than eight vehicles, including a truck, were set ablaze by the hoodlums who laid siege to the Owerri-Okigwe highway to unleash mayhem.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the police in the state, Henry Okoye, said the police and other security agencies have launched man haunt for the killers.

"The Imo State Police Command, working in synergy with the Military, Department of State Services, DSS, and other sister security agencies, have launched a coordinated manhunt for the criminal elements suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB/ESN. These armed miscreants attacked unsuspecting commuters along the Okigwe-Owerri Road, in the early hours of yesterday.

"The attackers, operating in three separate groups, blocked the highway between Umunna in Onuimo LGA and parts of Okigwe LGA, at about 0500hours. They shot sporadically, causing panic and chaos, and set vehicles, including trucks and motorcycles, ablaze. Tragically, reports of human casualties have also been confirmed, as a result of the ambush.

"Responding swiftly to the distress call, the state's Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, led a joint tactical team of the Police, Army, DSS, and other security agencies to the scene. The team provided immediate support to victims and initiated a comprehensive operation to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects responsible for this heinous attack.

"A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding. The Commissioner has assured the public that the operation will continue until all perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice", Okoye submitted.

Meanwhile, an indigene of Ihube, Okigwe local council of the state, who identified himself as Okechukwu (surname withheld), told Vanguard on phone, that "the situation in the area is terrible".

His words: "The hoodlums took everybody by storm. Traffic on this busy road was stalled for the greater part of yesterday morning. Honestly, the situation in the area is terrible. I have not seen a thing like this before.

"You can start seeing burnt vehicles from around Umuna area to a very short distance to Okigwe Junction, on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. I can conservatively put the number of vehicles burnt at about 35.

"Owners of trucks, carrying chippings, were the most hit. As at 2.35pm when I left the area, some of the vehicles were still smoldering."

Similarly,  a native of Achi, Oji River local government area of Enugu State, who craved anonymity said: "My friend, who was to meet me in Owerri, had to go back to Enugu, when his driver got wind of what was happening ahead of them.

"I must tell you that several vehicles, particularly trucks, were burnt by the rampaging hoodlums. I was able to count about 50 vehicles that were burnt.

"We started experiencing signs of the mayhem from around Umuna. All shops along the road were locked. People scampered for safety, while vehicular movement on the Owerri-Okigwe road was almost zero.

"I didn't see any corpse on the road. They may have been removed before we drove past the affected area, if there was any casualty. We only saw army vehicles ferrying armed soldiers to unknown destinations.

"The soldiers did not disturb vehicles plying the road. All I can say is that they must have had definite instructions on what to do.

"The Okigwe-Enugu axis was free for vehicular movement, as at 3.30pm when we used it."