Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Five persons were reportedly killed on Friday during a confrontation between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and unknown gunmen at Ihiala, Anambra State.
An eye witness in the area said “the incident happened at Akwa village in Ihiala during a clash between IPOB and unknown gunmen.
“The gunmen have a camp at a place called Oseakwa from where they have been terrorizing Ihiala, Okija, Uli and other neighbouring communities.
“For some time, the gunmen have been disrupting burials and demanding to be settled before any ceremony is organized. They are also the group that has been kidnapping people and snatching cars.
“On June 17, IPOB swooped on the gunmen in their camp and five people were killed during the shootout. IPOB operatives loaded the corpses in a Hilux van and paraded them around the villages.”
Also on Friday, some people suspected to be members of Ebubeagu clashed with gunmen at Ihiala during a burial ceremony, although no lives were lost.
According to the eye witness, following the clash, the burial had to be cancelled and the corpse returned to the mortuary.
He said: “It was terrible. What happened was that one Ekene who is a businessman in Ihiala was burying his late brother and his in-laws from Imo State came with members of Ebubeagu to protect them, only to be confronted by people who said they are unknown gunmen in charge of Ihiala.
“The argument of the gunmen was that Ebubeagu people ought not to enter Anambra State when there are people controlling the area.
”The incident happened at the village called Umuojimaka in Akwa and when the shooting became so much, the family took back the corpse to the mortuary. No new date has been fixed for the burial.”
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was yet to receive a report about the Ihiala incidents.
Confirming the development on Saturday, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga said the command had reinforced security in the area and environs.
“The Anambra State Police Command has reinforced Ihiala and its environs following a trending video of SUV’s and Hilux vehicles carrying young men that are wielding arms to yet unidentified location.
“Information from eyewitness account shows that violent clash ensued between two criminal gangs and further details confirmed the killing of one Innocent Obieke popularly called ‘Double Lion’ and three others.
“Double Lion has been on police wanted list and has featured in attacks on police formations, military locations and other government infrastructure.
“Meanwhile, police patrol is ongoing in the area and the situation is being monitored,” Ikenga said.
