Deadly Ambush: Gunmen Kill Travellers, Burn Vehicles on Okigwe-Owerri Road

Gunmen launched a deadly ambush early Thursday along the Okigwe-Owerri road in Imo State, killing several travellers and setting at least eight vehicles, including a truck, on fire. The exact number of fatalities remains unconfirmed at the time of this report.

According to the Imo State Police Command, the attackers—suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN)—blocked the highway between Umunna in Onuimo Local Government Area and parts of Okigwe LGA around 5:00 AM. They reportedly operated in three groups, firing shots indiscriminately and creating widespread panic before torching vehicles and motorcycles.

In response to the violence, Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, led a joint tactical team including the Police, Army, DSS, and other security agencies to the scene. The team provided immediate assistance to victims and launched a coordinated manhunt for the suspects.

Police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed that a full-scale search and cordon operation is ongoing, with security operatives combing nearby forests and communities in pursuit of the attackers. He assured the public that efforts will continue until all those responsible are captured and brought to justice.