From Isaac Ojo, Nnewi
The ghost town order every Monday placed in the South-East zone by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) early Monday in Nnewi got bloody as two people died in a confrontation between the Army and suspected members of IPOB.
The incident happened at Izuchukwu Junction roundabout in the industrial town according to eyewitnesses involved a leader of Eastern Security Network (ESN) and a commercial motorcyclist.
Our sources said the problem started at about 7.00am when some IPOB members came out to enforce the sit-at-home and in the process mount blockade on major roads in the town.
Some unidentified soldiers according to him, came in to clear the items used to block the roads, leading to altercation between them and the IPOB members.
Sources said that the two victims were killed by the soldiers.
Meanwhile, the industrial town has been reduced to a ghost town as the people who initially came out for their daily businessew had to rush back home.
Some vehicles were also smashed by aggrieved persons over the attack on civilians by armed soldiers.
Meanwhile, a combined team of security operatives as at the time of filing this report, later stormed the town to disperse the protesters.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Anambra State command could not be reached for comment, but our correspondents saw people scampering for safety due to the tension that engulfed the town.Civil servants and other people, including artisans could not go to work for fear of being molested or killed. IPOB had sent conflicting signals regarding today’s sit-at-home, even as Ohanaeze Ndigbo advised the IPOB members to change their tactics, stressing that their activities are impacting negatively on the economic wellbeing of the people they claim to be protecting.
