‘Nine dead’ as soldiers and IPOB members clash in Rivers

Nine people are feared dead following a clash between soldiers and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers state.

The casualties of the clash are five soldiers and four IPOB members, according to the PUNCH.

The IPOB members were said to have engaged some security agents, including soldiers in a gun duel that lasted from Thursday to Friday.

In a similar development, the Rivers police command said two of its officers were killed by IPOB members and that four stations were razed in the process.

In a statement, Nnamdi Omoni, spokesman of the command, quoted Joseph Mukan, Rivers police commissioner, as saying this when he led other heads of security agencies in the state to Oyigbo.

“The Rivers state commissioner of police, Joseph Mukan, today (Saturday) led commanders of the sister security agencies in the state to Oyigbo council area where hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB under the guise of #EndSARS protests invaded Oyigbo Area Command, Oyigbo, Afam and Umuebulu Police stations where they attacked the policemen on duty and burnt down the four police formations,” Omoni said.

“In the course of the attacks, over 50 vehicles were burnt, including one Armoured Personnel Carrier, killing two policemen who were hacked to death and set ablaze.

“The command will stop at nothing until the perpetrators of these dastardly acts are arrested and brought to justice.”