Okigwe, Imo State – May 9, 2025
Reported by: ASTRODEGREAT | ASTRO TV
A coordinated and deadly attack rocked the Okigwe-Owerri highway in Imo State on Thursday morning, May 8, 2025, as suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), unleashed terror on commuters and residents.
The assault, which occurred at approximately 6:35 a.m., targeted multiple locations along the route between Umuna in Onuimo Local Government Area and parts of Okigwe LGA. Eyewitness accounts reveal that the gunmen, operating in three separate groups and numbering over twenty, blocked the highway, opened fire indiscriminately, and set ablaze several vehicles including trucks, private cars, and motorcycles.
Preliminary reports suggest that up to 30 people may have been killed in the ambush, with charred bodies discovered in some of the torched vehicles. The exact death toll has yet to be confirmed by authorities.
In response to the attack, the Imo State Police Command, in partnership with the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilante groups, has launched an intensive manhunt. Security forces are combing surrounding forests and suspected hideouts in a bid to apprehend the culprits.
The incident has sparked outrage and fear among residents, with many calling on the state and federal governments to urgently bolster security measures in the region and bring the attackers to justice.
This latest assault is one of the deadliest in recent times along the Okigwe-Owerri corridor and has further heightened concerns about the deteriorating security situation in the South-East.
ASTRO TV will continue to monitor developments and bring you updates as new information emerges.
Reported by: ASTRODEGREAT
For: ASTRO TV
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