Gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have shot two persons dead in Obuohia Ibere community, Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State.
The duo were branded saboteurs by the militant wing of IPOB and shot dead, while another indigene of the community, Oruh Samuel Chigozie escaped by the whiskers.
This was disclosed by a prominent leader in the community, Chief Silas Nwokeabia, who briefed journalists in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on the worrisome developments in the community.
It was gathered that the two victims were among the youths being lured to join the Eastern Security Network, ESN, a militant wing of the IPOB.
Nwokeabia disclosed that since the formation of ESN, the group had been trying to conscript some indigenous people of the community into its militant wing.
He, however, lamented that, “the trend is that once you refuse to join them, they will brand you a saboteur and find a way to terminate your life.
“On this particular day, August 7, 2022, they stormed our community and invaded the residential houses of many youths who they claimed were saboteurs.
“They claimed that the youths were working in cahoot with security agencies; for that reason, they stormed the community and started picking out some youths. Two of them were shot dead, while others were abducted.
“My cousin, Oruh Samuel Chigozie cheated death as he miraculously escaped.”
He said the essence of the press briefing was for the government and the relevant security agencies to come to the aid of the community.
“Our community needs protection; we should not be allowed to live at the mercy of gunmen.
“We all need Biafra, but it should not come by killing our own people under the guise of a freedom fight,” he added.
Meanwhile, the police confirmed the killing, noting that it was on the trail of those behind the mayhem in Obuohia Ibere community.
