Unidentified gunmen suspected of carrying out a two-day sit-at-home order purportedly announced by an unidentified organization in the South-East have reportedly carried out an attack at Ebebe Junction, in Amike-aba Community of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The assailants, who attacked about 6:20 a.m. on Friday, set fire to a car, but a motorbike rider escaped death.
According to Mr Anayo Chukwuemeka, a resident of the neighborhood who talked to Vanguard, the assailants fired numerous bullets, causing locals to panic and flee for safety.
“It happened in a flash. But, when the gunshots died down and we came out, we saw that a vehicle has been burnt beyond recognition.
“The driver of the vehicle, who managed to escape, told us that the gunmen said they are enforcing the sit-at-home declared in protest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Ebonyi.
“A motorcycle owner, who also escaped the attackers’ gunshots, told us that they fired at him but he miraculously dodged the bullets,” Chukwuemeka said.
Also, Mr Simon Onwe, a shop owner in the area, told Vanguard that the attackers came in a vehicle without number plate and shot sporadically into the air and immediately fled.
“I was still inside my shop because I slept there; I heard the gunshots but I discovered later that they left a vehicle burnt beyond recognition while a motorcycle operator told us that he narrowly escaped their bullets.
“It’s so unfortunate that we witnessed such an ugly incident in this area that is usually very peaceful and sprawling with business activities especially at evening periods,” he said.
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Meanwhile, a combined team of men of the Nigeria Police and the Ebubeagu Eastern Security Outfit, Ebonyi Command have condoned off the area.
Contacted, Mrs Loveth Odah, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi command, said that the she was yet to get a report of the incident.
“I’m just getting the information from you; I’m not aware of the attack,” Odah said.
Meanwhile, an officer of the command at the scene of the incident told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that the police have organised a manhunt to apprehend the armed criminals.
