There is great fear and tension in Owerri the Imo State Capital following the rumoured infiltration into the state of the dreaded Boko Haram sect over the weekend.
The news of the presence of the sect in the state capital is coming weeks after suspected cripple allegedly attempted to wreck havoc when he failed to set a fuel tanker on fire around the famous Assumpta round/ about control post Owerri.
According to an eye witness account, the cripple who posed as a begger had ignited a lighter to be thrown into the fallen fuel tanker with Petroleum already running into the gutter before he was intercepted by passers-by.
The action which drew the attention of people within the Assumpta Catholic Cathedral raised a lot of dust and tension as the angry mob attempted to lynch the suspect before the intervention of Archbishop of Owerri Rev Dr Anthony J.V Obinna
Unconfirmed report has it that the suspected terrorist has the famous Douglas Road, Government House and Okigwe town as their major targets for bombing.
The fresh fear is coming at the heels of unconfirmed reports that notification was purportedly given to soldiers in the state from the rampaging sect that it would descend on security agencies in the state.
The rumour may have prompted soldiers of 34 filed Artillery Brigade Obinze, near Owerri to employ further security measures with stop-and-search sessions mounted on the Owerri-PH road. While a security barricade was formed to and fro the Obinze barracks frisk passer-by. Military operates are said to be on alert for any insurgency movements.
Trumpeta further gathered that the recent clampdown on street traders on Douglas Road may not be unconnected with the precautionary measures employed by security agencies to ward off any chances from the sect.
This newspaper had in one of its recent editions exclusively revealed how dreaded Fulani herdsmen have invaded Imo communities. The itinerant cattle rearers are said to have raised security concern and Boko Haram fear following their utterances and manner of approaching the locals who they easily informed about the background similar to Boko Haram Sects.
