Some youths suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Wednesday morning accosted and burnt a commercial bus, tricycle, in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State on the claims of enforcing a sit at home directive.
The youths wielding guns and other dangerous weapons also tried to disrupt economic activities in the business bubbling city.
Recall that last weekend, a message was circulated on social media, stating that there will be a 4-day sit at home exercise in the south east, begining from Monday, May 8, to 11, but no reason was given for the order.
But a statement by the media and publicity secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful stated that the group had announced May 30 as a day for all Biafrans to sit at home, in commemoration of Biafra day.
It was gathered the burbing of vehicle had sent panic in Onitsha town, with a source saying that the enforcers were heading towards Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area, through the old road.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga 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 on fire commercial vehicles and tricycles plying the road.
“The residents courageously resisted the assailants and the fire has been 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,” he stated.
Also, No fewer than 20 passers-by were on Wednesday, robbed of their possessions that included, handsets, jeweleries, wristwatches, cash, among others, between Francis street/Iboku street, located behind NITE building, Oniitsha Anambra State, by tricycle, (Keke) armed robbers in military uniform.
It was gathered that the robbers, numbering about five and driving on a tricycle, in military uniform, emerged from nowhere and started robbing anybody within reach, at gun-point.
A victim who pleaded anonymity, told this reporter that, ” I was just passing between Iboku/Francis junction when suddenly a tricycle halted in my front and as I was about to ask what was amiss, two men pointed a pun at me and ordered me to surrender all my possessions to them and I did so because I realized immediately that they were armed robbers.
“They collected my handset, cash of #10,000, and ATM card. They asked me to runaway immediately which I did without shouting. But on getting to to where others were watching the incidence from a distance:, they started running too,” he said.
Reacting, a man who said he saw it all as it happened and simply identified himself as John, said that, ” I escaped from these criminals by the whiskers because immediately they drove past me I suspected them and few seconds later, they started robbing passers-by.
“They were in military uniform and the one driving the tricycle that has same yellow colour with other commercial tricycles, was the only one inside as others came out and robbed the people. About 20 people were robbed of their belongings at gun-point and they drove off as they came in,” he stated.
A student who claimed to have also escaped by the whiskers and who did not want his name in print said that they were five in number and that four wore military uniform which made him to believe they were soldiers until they started demanding for people’s belongings.
Phone calls put across to the Oniitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Nasiru Kaila (ACP), to confirm the incident were not picked as at the time of filing this report.
