SCORES of people were feared killed when gunmen attacked travellers in Imo State.
Amnesty International (AI) reported on Friday, May 9, that over 20 vehicles and trucks were set ablaze during the May 8 attack along the Okigwe-Owerri road by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to AI’s post on X: “The attack … shows callous disregard for the sanctity of life. The gunmen blocked Okigwe-Owerri highway and areas of Umuna in Onuimo LGA, unleashed violence in an utter show of impunity.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately and transparently investigate this attack and ensure that the actual perpetrators are brought to justice. International law requires the Nigerian government to promptly investigate unlawful killings to bring perpetrators to justice.”
When contacted, spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the attack in the early hours of Thursday, but declined to comment on casualties.
He told Reuters on Friday that one of the attackers had been killed by the Police, explaining that the gunmen, operating in three groups, blocked the highway at 4a.m. and shot sporadically.
Okoye added: “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 state Commissioner of Imo State, Mr. Aboki Danjuma, later led a joint tactical team of security operatives, comprising Army, Police and Department of State Service (DSS) personnel to the scene.
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