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The Police Command in Ebonyi State has come out to clarify that no life was lost in the state yesterday after some enforcers of a seven-day sit-at-home order by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were sighted shooting residents.
The Eastern Updates reports that the sit-at-home order declared by one Simon Ekpa based in Finland began on Saturday and would end on Friday.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, made this disclosure in an interview with reporters on Tuesday.
Read Also: South East: Sit-at-home Rumour Debunked By IPOB
Onovwakpoyeya explained that the group were only shooting sporadically at some locations to scare people away in a bid to enforce the sit-at-home order.
‘Yes, the group came and shot sporadically at the new market opposite Liberation Estate and our tactical team responded quickly and people cleared. There was no casualty. Nobody sustained injury either on the part of the civilians or the police. The police have intensified patrol within the town and even at the hinterlands,’ she added.
She further stated, ‘On the report that a police van was burnt, the news is not true.’
Recall that there was mild pandemonium in Abakaliki yesterday, as gunmen invaded Ishieke and Ukwuachi suburbs of the city, shooting sporadically into the air to disperse traders at a market in the area.
The Eastern Updates gathered that the gunmen, believed to be enforcing the seven days sit-at-home, declared by Simon Ekpa’s group, stormed the market. It was learnt that one police van and two motorcycles were set ablaze by the gunmen, who were shouting that they will continue to terrorise the people until the sit-at-home period elapses.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, said that the gunmen operated in an open roof vehicle and two motorcycles, wielding various high calibre guns, which resulted in people scampering for safety.
