Hoodlums masquerading as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB, on Tuesday, set ablaze a bus supplying bread to customers at old Orie Emene for allegedly disobeying the sit-at-home order.
The leadership of IPOB had declared Tuesday, September 14, sit-at-home in the South East to remember 28 members massacred at their leader Nnamdi Kanu’s father’s palace in Afaraukwu in Umuahia, Abia State, when soldiers invaded the palace.
However, the incident, which was said to have occurred around 5:30am along the Adoration Road, Emene, also saw the destruction of some tricycles whose drivers were accused of violating the order.
It was gathered that the driver of the bus supplying Chimex Bread was accosted at Orie Emene by the hoodlums and was asked to turn back but he reportedly disobeyed the directive.
He (driver) was said to have ignored the warning and proceeded to supply his bread to customers before he was dragged out of the vehicle, unload the bread he was carrying before setting the bus ablaze.
Shortly after, a detachment of a combined security operatives made up of police and soldiers stormed the Orie Emene axis and started shooting indiscriminately, arresting anybody on sight.
An eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the shooting lasted for about 20 minutes.
Efforts to get the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, for reaction to the incident were unsuccessful as he didn’t pick his calls.
He later sent a text message saying, “Sorry, I have a meeting now.”
(Punch)