Residents of Orieagu, the headquarters of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo state, also known as Aba Branch and other adjoining communities in the area are now running away in droves from their homes and business areas after two Hilux vans carrying members of the Operation Search and Flush security outfit numbering about 10 and made up of soldiers, policemen, and Civil Defence personnel were burnt by gunmen.
The incident which occured Tuesday morning between Orieagu and Aba Branch, left the security operatives sprawling on the floor, with some of them burnt beyond recognition with weapons suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
An eyewitness who spoke to Blueprint correspondent said he saw the two vehicles coming from Isinweke, a town in a neighbouring LGA.
“The first Hilux passed, the second passed until they got to Orieagu. As they approached Aba Branch, the gunmen struck from a nearby bush. It was like a war situation.
“Right now, people are moving away from those areas, with houses and shops being shut and vehicles are no longer going towards the scene of the incident. Vehicles turned back as soon as their drivers heard what happened. Again, there is a widespread information that security operatives are coming for a reprisal attack even though the gunmen might not have come from the area,” the eyewitness said.
Recall that early in the year, a former governor of the state, Sir Ikedi Ohakim, was attacked by gunmen. While Ohakim and his driver escaped with a bullet proof jeep, four of his orderlies were not all that lucky as they lost their lives.
