By IDNN South-East Security Desk
Published: May 9, 2025
A horrifying scene unfolded on Thursday morning in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, as heavily armed assailants blocked a major highway, opened fire on commuters, and set more than 20 vehicles on fire in what has become one of the most violent episodes in Nigeria’s South-East this year.
Eyewitnesses and security sources confirm that dozens of civilians were killed, many of them burned alive in their vehicles, while a joint force of police and military personnel was later deployed to engage the attackers.
“Some soldiers and police operatives really confronted them. But up to 30 people were killed,” said a resident, Augustine Mbanusi, in Igbo, during a phone interview.
The exact death toll remains uncertain, as emergency responders continue to recover charred remains from the scene.
Flames, Chaos, and Trapped Victims
The attack took place between the Umuna axis in Onuimo LGA and Amuro in Okigwe LGA, an area now notorious for insurgent ambushes and armed criminal gangs.
In a widely circulated video clip, trucks and passenger vehicles are seen engulfed in flames along the highway as anguished voices cry out in the background.
“People are still trapped there. If we had water, we would have poured it to save them,” one voice in Igbo said, capturing the horror of onlookers helpless to intervene.
“One of them is already dead,” another male voice added in a grim tone.
Police Confirm Carnage, Blame IPOB
Imo State Police Command has confirmed the deadly attack, blaming the violence on suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, the attackers operated in three separate groups, simultaneously blocking the highway, opening fire, and setting vehicles and motorcycles ablaze.
“Tragically, reports of human casualties have also been confirmed as a result of the ambush,” he said.
Tactical Response Underway
In swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, led a joint tactical operation involving the Nigerian Army, Police, and Department of State Services (DSS) to the scene.
The joint force provided immediate emergency support and launched a search-and-cordon operation targeting nearby forests where the attackers are believed to have fled.
“We are combing nearby forests. This operation will continue until all perpetrators are tracked down and arrested,” DSP Okoye said.
He described the attack as a “cowardly act of terror”, urging residents to stay calm, vigilant, and assist law enforcement by providing credible intelligence.
A Region Under Siege
This latest carnage adds to the growing list of violent incidents in Imo State and other South-East regions, where armed separatist groups, bandits, and criminal syndicates have disrupted life through kidnappings, arson, and targeted assassinations.
The federal government and security agencies have repeatedly accused IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), of coordinating these attacks — a claim the group continues to deny.
Over the past year, hundreds of civilians, security officers, and government officials have been killed or abducted in similar ambushes across the region.
