•IPOB members and policemen
Scores of youths were reportedly killed last night in a brutal attack by gunmen in Umualaoma, Ndiakunwanta, and Ndiejezie communities of Arondizogu, Ideato North Local Government Area, Imo State.
The horrifying assault, which occurred between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., has plunged the affected communities into fear and mourning, reports The Nation.
Eyewitnesses said three unidentified gunmen riding on a motorbike opened fire indiscriminately, targeting residents gathered in shops and public spaces.
Victims included shop owners, their customers, and others relaxing outside in the night breeze. In Umualaoma, the attackers shot at youths playing a board game known as draft, leaving a trail of blood and lifeless bodies in their wake. Panic and sorrow gripped the community as residents wailed over the carnage.
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, community members are calling on the authorities to urgently restore peace and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Reacting to the incident, the Imo State Police Command condemned the killings, which it attributed to members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“The senseless assault, which claimed the lives of over seven persons and left several others critically injured, was carried out by members of IPOB/ESN,” said the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, in an official statement.
He described the attack as “barbaric, inhumane, and totally unacceptable,” and assured the public that adequate intelligence and operational resources have been deployed to apprehend the perpetrators.
According to Okoye, Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma has personally led tactical units in a thorough combing operation of the affected areas. He said the situation is now under control and that proactive security measures have been taken to prevent further attacks.
The Commissioner expressed deep sympathy to the families of the deceased, offering prayers for the repose of the victims and a speedy recovery for the injured. He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies during ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, civil society organisation Stand for Humanity Foundation has also condemned the killings. Its founder, Chidiebube Okeoma, described the incident as “provocative and barbaric,” and called for an immediate end to the spate of killings and violence in Imo State and the wider Southeast region.
He extended condolences to the bereaved families, urging government and security agencies to step up efforts to protect innocent lives and ensure lasting peace.
