At least five members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were killed in a gun battle with police operatives in Ebonyi State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night when the group attacked Ishieke Police Station in a blue Sienna bus around 9:30pm.
According to eyewitnesses, the IPOB members opened fire on the station, but were overpowered by the police in a 30-minute gunfight. Police vehicles were set ablaze during the battle. A video showing the bodies of the IPOB members was shared on social media platforms.
Residents fled for their lives as the shooting intensified. Reinforcements from the state police command headquarters and soldiers responded to a distress call from the Ishieke Police Station. The IPOB members attempted to escape, shooting sporadically into the air before being apprehended by the advance team.
An eyewitness explained, “The gunmen arrived at Ishieke Police Station and opened fire. The police responded, and it lasted about 30 minutes before other security operatives came for reinforcement. The hoodlums attempted to escape, shooting sporadically into the air, but met their end in the hands of the advance team.”
The police have not issued a statement on the attack, but the Sienna bus used by the IPOB members and their corpses have been taken to the state police headquarters.