Hoodlums, suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, on Wednesday, set ablaze a commercial bus and a tricycle in Onitsha, Anambra State, in their attempt to disrupt commercial and economic activities in the area.
A source in the area, who does not want his name in print for fears of harassment, said the hoodlums, who were claiming to be enforcing a sit-at-home directive, ordered by a faction of the IPOB group, trailed the commercial bus and set it ablaze.
They were also said to have burnt a tricycle while shooting into the air to scare away people.
“The burning of vehicles sent panic around the Onitsha area and the enforcers were heading towards Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area, through the Old Road,” the source added.
A message had been circulating on social media since last week claiming that there will be a four-day sit-at-home exercise in the South-East, beginning from Monday, May 8. No reason was given for the order.
Although, a press statement by the IPOB spokesperson, Mr Emma Powerful, on Monday, indicated that the group announced May 30 as a day for all Biafrans to sit-at-home, in commemoration of Biafra day and to honour its fallen heroes.
The state Police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the enforcers were confronted by police operatives and they had long been dislodged.
“Police responded swiftly which made the criminals escape the scene. The hoodlums in an attempt to scare the residents from coming out to embark on their daily activities, stopped and set fire on commercial vehicles and tricycles plying the road.
“The residents courageously resisted the assailants and the fire was put off by the police operatives and some people in the area. Meanwhile calm has returned to the area and the situation is under control and monitored,” Ikenga added.
