Unknown Gunmen Unleash Terror In Simon Ekpa Hometown In Ebonyi State

Sounds of gunshots rend the air as suspected hoodlums also called Unknown gunmen caused mayhem in Ezzamgbo, hometown of Simon Ekpa in Ebonyi State on Monday. Simon Ekpa, who is based in Finland, is the acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who has been acting in the absence of Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for terrorism.

The group, which had earlier banned celebration of Independence Day across the South East, attacked traders and set vehicles ablaze at the popular Ezzamgbo Junction along the Abakiliki-Enugu highway in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi state.

The criminals also burnt down shops, motorbikes, tricycles and destroyed properties of some traders who opened for business. This is not the first time that the group would take such drastic measure to enforce the sit-at-home in some parts of the state.

At the moment, many residents and traders have closed their shops and ran for safety. A resident, Chukwuma Apama, who confirmed the incident, told our source that the hoodlums sparked tension in the area. Meanwhile, shops, filling stations and other business premises including motorcycle operators and Keke opened for business in Abakiliki the capital city of Ebonyi state.

Earlier, IPOB had threatened to deal decisively with anyone who violated its directive on the sit-at-home order on Monday. The group had also warned schools and companies against celebrating Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary, saying Nigerian flag must not be seen being flown in commemoration of the event.

Reacting to the attacks, SP Onome, Spokesperson of the Ebonyi State Police Command, said the police were on trail of the attackers. “On 2nd October 2023, armed men suspected to be IPOB/ESN members in a sienna car attacked commuter buses, tricycles and motorcycles at Ezzangbo junction. They burnt down three commuter buses, four motorcycles and one tricycle. No life was lost,” News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.

Meanwhile, a face of Innocent looking woman has been rounding the internet after being caught with ammunitions meant to be delivered to terrorists in Katsina State in the northern part of Nigeria. She came all the way from Bauchi.

Meanwhile the Nigerian army has stated that its troops of the Joint Task Force, South-East, code-named Operation UDO KA II, have cleared four camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Imo State.

A statement on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, said that troops also neutralized two IPOB/ESN members and arrested four others during the clearance operation.

Unuakhalu said that the camps cleared on Sunday October 1, are located in three communities namely Ihube, Aku, and Umulolo in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. He noted that during the clearance operation, troops encountered many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) deployed en route to the camps.