•Ugwu, KC, Others Wanted
•Casualties, Property Loss Recorded
It was a theater of war and free for all fight on Sunday, November 21, 2021 at the suburb of Awo-Omamma, a rural Community in Oru East Local Government Area, as security operatives comprising police, army and local vigilante known as Ebubeagu clashed with members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB.
From what Trumpeta learnt, virtually all the government security apparatus in Imo State were deployed to the community against the perceived fear of members of the Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra, IPOB who had already planned for a peaceful protest on Sunday.
Eyes witnesses account have it that the community and environs woke up at the sound of sporadic gunshots in search of the supposed Biafra agitators.
This newspaper gathered that the incident was between men of the Army, Police, Local Vigilante group versus the pro Biafra group.
Trouble ensued when the botched IPOB protesters in favour of the release of their detained Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu were halted and made to discontinue on their already planned protest by the Nigeria Army in joint effort of the Police.
On the process, according to the eye witness account who spoke to Trumpeta Newspaper under strict anonymity, the men who converged on the peaceful protesters were allegedly tear gassed and manhandled, while many scampered for their safety.
This development resulted to a reprisal attack which saw no fewer than twelve of the IPOB members purportedly brutalized.
Aside that, few others died on the spot as a result of the gunshots and matchet wounds by the security men.
The other survivors took to their heels for fear of further deaths and injuries.
It was further gathered that while the dust of the incidents on Sunday was yet to rest, the Army and police officials the next day Monday November 22, 2021 embarked on “Jehovah Witness” approach of visiting respective houses of marked IPOB members face in retaliation to their deceased (security operatives) members who died on the Sunday fracas.
One of the IPOB Members, Mr. Amadikwa Ugwu known as “Nwa Chukwu” aged 49, was visited while at the comfort of his house and was whisked away after razing down his father’s abode in Umubochi Awo Omamma.
It was also reported to Trumpeta that one Mr. Emefo Kenechi Cyprian from Umuojii Awo-Omamma in the late 30’s got his own dose of the military invasion.
One of the villagers who spoke to this Newspaper disclosed that although KC as fondly called nor his family members (Wife and child) were not met at home, but the Operatives left sad footprint in their house by demolishing it and dropping a note with the inscription, “You have no place to hide. We must get you and your fellow IPOB members”.
Also speaking, the old woman decried of the setting on fire of Kenechi’s wife’s food stuff shop at same Awo Omamma, same as other numerous shop owners.
“Onye nta akuko (Journalist), all the people, especially the women that have shops there as we speak have been dispossessed because the army and police burnt all to ashes. Wetin dey do? IPOB is not a terrorist group like Boko Haram. Why they go disturb innocent people and make them homeless because they protest for the release of Nnamdi Kanu?, said the old woman (names withhold).
In a similar note, the Military train continued down to other parts of Oru East LGA in search of other pro IPOB members who had abinitio gathered for the botched November 21, 2021 protest.
It would be recalled that for some time, the Orlu, Orsu, Ohaji/Egbema, Oru East, Mbano axis of Imo State had been under some sort of siege by unknown gunmen which attracted the heavy presence of the Military and Police.
However, grapevine sources revealed that ever since the incident at Awo Omamma that involved the Army and the IPOB group, houses have been deserted till date with occupants whereabout unknown as at press time.
