Gunmen Enforce Biafra Day Sit-at-Home in Anambra Community, Clash With Security Operatives

Suspected armed men on Saturday invaded Ebenebe community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, forcing residents and shop owners to shut down businesses in observance of the annual Biafra Day celebration.

The armed men, said to be riding motorcycles and wielding AK-47 rifles, reportedly stormed the community at about 10 a.m., directing traders and residents to comply with the sit-at-home order declared in honour of those who died during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, had earlier designated May 30 as Biafra Day, observed annually to commemorate victims of the civil war that ended nearly six decades ago.

An eyewitness in the community told journalists that the gunmen, numbering about five, initially acted peacefully while urging residents to close their shops and suspend business activities until later in the day.

“At first, the men were not violent. They just urged people to close, telling them they could reopen by 4 p.m. But because of panic, people were running helter-skelter,” the source said.

The witness, however, disclosed that the situation later escalated after the gunmen reportedly encountered operatives of the Agunechemba Security Outfit, leading to a gun battle.

“They later left on their motorcycles, but we subsequently started hearing heavy gunfire and everyone began running. We learnt that they were confronted by operatives of the Agunechemba Security Outfit, resulting in a fierce gun battle.

“Throughout today, there have been gunshots. It ceased at a point because we learnt that the Agunechemba operatives overpowered them, but later this evening, we learnt the gunmen regrouped and returned to confront the security operatives.

“They had been shooting from this evening until about an hour ago. Everyone is afraid and people have retreated into their homes for fear of being hit by stray bullets. Everywhere is deserted as I speak to you, and we do not know what will happen tonight,” the source added.

As of the time of filing this report, it was unclear whether any casualties were recorded during the incident, while the identity of the gunmen had yet to be officially established.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Agunechemba Security Outfit, Comrade Nweke Nweke, were unsuccessful as his telephone lines could not be reached.

The Anambra State Police Command had also not issued an official statement on the incident at the time of this report.