Gunmen have killed at least 15 people and razed several vehicles in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo state.
The attackers barricaded the Okwelle axis of Okigwe road and unleashed terror on motorists and commuters on Thursday afternoon. Videos showing trucks in flames along the road have appeared on social media.
An eyewitness narrowly escaped being shot, but the motorcyclist conveying him was hit by a bullet and killed.
The Imo state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, blamed suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) for the attack.
According to Okoye, the gunmen opened fire on police officers who were mobilized to the scene, but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the operatives.
One of the gunmen was killed, and a snatched Toyota Corolla and an HP laptop were recovered from the scene. The police have launched an intensive manhunt to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.
This latest incident highlights the worsening insecurity in the southeast geopolitical zone amid the detention and trial of Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader.
