Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) operating Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Friday night reportedly attacked a military checkpoint at Ihiala along the Onitsha-Owerri road, Anambra State killing five soldiers.

Mr Ikenga Tochukwu, the state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) who confirmed the incident said the soldiers were attacked at about 8:40 pm on Friday.

Although, details of the number of casualties are yet to be verified by the police.

According to Vanguard quoting an eye witness, the gunmen, who allegedly came in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), fired at the soldiers and destroyed their operational vehicle parked at the checkpoint.

The incident has created panic among road users as they were stranded due to the barricade of all roads leading to the state by soldiers.

Furthermore, Mr John Nwankwo, who was to travel to Abuja yesterday from Awka told the medium that their vehicle could not pass through the Niger Bridge as the soldiers blocked it in the early hours of the day (Saturday), just as vehicles were not allowed to enter Anambra State from Asaba in Delta State.

At the Amansea border town between Anambra and Enugu states, commuters also experienced difficulty accessing the two states as the soldiers there caused traffic gridlock in the area.

In the meantime, the Anambra State government has banned movement throughout the state from 7 pm to 6 am till further notice.

Public address systems hired by the state government were going around the major cities to ask tricycle and shuttle drivers to remain in their homes within the duration of the curfew.

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