Members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have launched attacks on two communities in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.
The attacks came three weeks after the group’s leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice James Omotosho of an Abuja Federal High Court.
Kanu is the leader of IPOB, a self determination group championing for the declaration of Biafra.
However, the group was declared a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian Government after they formed a militant wing, Eastern Security Network.
Most of the activities of the unknown gunmen in the South-East and part of South-South is linked to the group.
After his trial and sentencing, he was moved to Sokoto Prison, which further got his members angry, a development that has sparked fresh gunmen attack across the five South-East states.
Imo state ,Anambra and Abia States have been the worst hit.
In the Umuahia attack, five persons were left with gunshot wounds after the attack by the rampaging IPOB members.
Some of those injured included: a couple, Mr and Mrs James Akaeze, Christian Maduforo, Ernest Akaogu and Stephen Chima.
In the case of Mr Stephen Chima. his in-law, Mr Ugonna Alphonsus Okafor, was accused of sabotaging the group.
Although he has been on the run with the wife, Mrs Ngachigraia Chima Grace , the group has not ended their search for him, prompting the latest attack.
It was gathered that Mr Okafor was coerced into joining IPOB by one of his cousin.
The President-General of community in Umuahia, Chief Augustine Adibe told our correspondent that Mr Okafor was no longer a member of IPOB, but that the group’s militant wing, ESN, were still hunting for him.
“In the latest attack, which occurred just three weeks after Nnamdi Kanu was jailed, five persons sustained gunshot wounds and houses burned.
“Among them is Mr Okafor’s father in-law; who is still in the hospital. A couple were also hit by the sporadic shots.
“According to them, Mr Okafor sabotaged them by quitting the group; this is why they have been trying to get him down, alongside his wife,” Chief Adibe said.
