Owerri – Soldiers and unidentified gunmen clashed in a fierce gun battle for over two hours on Tuesday night at a military checkpoint in the Aba branch of the Ehime Mbano Council Area of Imo State.
An eyewitness at the scene reported this to news outlets in Owerri.
Footage circulating online shows vehicles belonging to the soldiers set ablaze, along with visible blood stains on the road where the incident occurred.
Another eyewitness, who did not identify himself and filmed the confrontation, referred to the clash as an “October movement.” He claimed, “We have driven them out. This used to be the Ehime Mbano local government headquarters, and they turned it into an Army camp. We have driven them out. This is our land. They should leave it for us.”
At the time of this report, the number of casualties remained unclear, as well as whether they were on the soldiers’ side or that of the gunmen.
Tensions have surged in the surrounding communities, with villagers reportedly fleeing to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Some have sought refuge in Owerri, while others have moved to neighboring council areas for safety.
Imo State Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye had not yet responded to inquiries regarding the situation.
It’s worth noting that on October 1, 2024, gunmen attacked and set fire to the study center of the National Open University (NOUN) in the same Ehime Mbano Council Area, causing significant damage to buildings and office equipment.
