Fleeing gunmen, on Saturday, gunned down seven people in Ezinachi community in the Okigwe local government area of Imo State.
The victims include one Vigilante operative, a couple, and four others in what was described as a warning against challenging the dominion of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN).
A source, who pleaded anonymity, said due to the spate of killings in Okigwe, some young men recently formed a vigilante group to ward off further attacks on their people and community.
However, but rather than discharge their mandate quietly, the vigilante operatives took to social media to announce their formation and warning to the gunmen who they alleged were members of the proscribed IPOB and Eastern ESN, which allegedly irked the proscribed group to retaliate.
The source said on Saturday, members of IPOB and ESN allegedly loyal to Yahoo and Gentle swooped on the community and gunned down seven people.
According to the source, the gunmen did the shooting amidst warning that nobody should dare to contest dominion with them.
The source said, “as a result of the repeated attacks on communities in Okigwe, some boys decided to form a vigilante group to keep watch against further attacks. Instead of them to carry out their plans quietly, they posted it on social media to announce their presence and warned IPOB and ESN members to steer clear off the community.”
“On Saturday afternoon, the gunmen just arrived and started asking who was contesting their authority. Seven people were killed, including a couple. One of the people killed was part of the vigilante group. Already, others have gone into hiding even as our community has been thrown into another fear and panic. Nobody can dare to say anything again,” the source added.
Already, security operatives drawn from the Nigerian Army and Police have been deployed to the community according to the source.
Meanwhile, attempts to get the reaction of the Imo State Police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, proved abortive as his number was not unreachable as at press time.
