There is escalation of killing of Armed Forces of Nigeria personnel and burning of Police Station and courts across the South East ahead of the Sit-at-Home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN).
At least, five soldiers were allegedly shot dead along Wetheral Road Owerri in Imo State on Friday night as unknown gunmen attacked the area.
Also, five soldiers were feared killed and their operational vehicle destroyed by unidentified gunmen in Ihiala, Anambra State.
The incident happened Friday night along Owerri-Onitsha road at one of the checkpoints along the highway.
Because of the killing, security operatives placed Anambra State on lockdown, blocking the Niger Bridge, thus stopping all inflow and outflow of vehicles and people between Anambra and Delta State.
Also, commuters from Enugu State are being stopped at Amansea boundary of the two States, while soldiers conduct stop and search on every vehicle.
And in Atta, Njaba Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, gunmen razed down a Magistrate Court, High Court and a Divisional Police station.
Sources said that the attack on the community took place in the late hours of Friday and followed by long hours of sporadic gunshots which generated panic among residents.
By Saturday morning, the residents noticed that the courts and Police station had been set ablaze.
The Police station was still under construction and so no lives were lost.
The escalation of violence raises the bar on attacks at government facilities in the South East especially in Imo State.
The region, which is the base of IPOB/ESN, is campaigning to secede from Nigeria. IPOB has already been proscribed by a Nigerian court and labelled a terrorist organisation.
As part of its campaigns, IPOB ordered a sit-at-home directive on Sunday in memory of Igbos who died in Nigeria’s 1967-1970 civil war.
The order has crippled religious, economic, educational, political and social activities in the region with majority of schools closed.
Many residents have embarked on panic buying as they anticipate prolonged violence.
But the Imo State government and the Police have urged residents to disregard the sit-at-home directive and go about their lawful duties, assuring that all measures have been put in place to ensure the adequate protection of lives and property.
