Imo: Gunmen Attack Market, Set Shops, Cars Ablaze

By Charles Igbo

Tragedy has hit the Uruala Community, Imo State.

In a tragic incident, said to be attributable to the sit-at-home order clamped on the South-east by Simon Ekpa, the self proclaimed Disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, gunmen on Friday, December 9, 2022, invaded the Afor Uruala Market.

During the invasion, they set ablaze vehicles and razed down shops. Goods worth hundreds of thousands of Naira were lost. The loss runs into millions of Naira if vehicles set on fire are added.

Nobody could confirm where the gunmen came from, but Ekpa had, a couple of days earlier, issued a five-day sit-at-home order in the South-east beginning from December 9, 2022.

His order attracted outrage in the Region from individuals and organisations, including IPOB.

In two separate statements signed by IPOB’s Spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the Organisation distanced itself from the order proclaiming any sit-at-home. It said it never gave such order and it was not approved by Kanu.

The order from Finland-based Ekpa is thought to be aimed at stopping people in the region from going to pick their Permanent Voters Card,  PVC.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had dedicated the days to those who have not picked their PVC’s to do so.

However, IPOB has directed the people to go and pick their PVC’s, promising to provide adequate security in the Region for the five days Ekpa shut down the South-east.

Sadly, Ekpa’s Group, allegedly, began their operations as earlier scheduled. There was no challenge by anybody at the market. The gunmen had their way in the presence of shocked and helpless citizens.

This Group insists there will be no election in the South-east come 2023. IPOB disagrees.