‘Sit-at-home’: Hoodlums set vehicle ablaze in Imo market (updated)

The Imo police command says hoodlums, on Monday, set ablaze a bus in the Izombe central market of the state.

There were earlier reports that there was a bomb explosion at the market by gunmen who were trying to enforce a sit-at-home order.

However, according to a statement by Michael Abattam, Imo police spokesman, a vehicle was set ablaze by “miscreants” said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order.

“It is on record that there was no bomb explosion in Izombe Central Market on 20/6/2022, and there was no record at the disposal of the Command that, the traders were in anytime warned by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or it militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), not to come out on Mondays for their businesses,” the statement reads,

“More so, the community has always engaged in their market business without fear of molestation from anybody.

“However, preliminary investigation conducted by the Police Operatives on arrival at the market while responding to the distress on 20/6/2022 at about 1630hours, revealed that some overzealous miscreants came to the Izombe Central Market in Oguta LGA of Imo State, on a motorcycle, went to a stationed bus where the conductor was canvassing for passengers traveling to Owerri and set it ablaze in the name of enforcing sit-at-home order in the community and left almost immediately after the act.

“However, no life was lost and most of the people had left because it was the close of market.”

States in the south-east have witnessed a spike in attacks over the past months, and security operatives have blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the attacks.

The group has, however, repeatedly denied involvement.

Although the proscribed group had suspended the Monday sit-at-home — which it declared in support of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader, who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) — many residents are said to still observe the order out of fear of attacks.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated in light of information from the police that the attack wasn’t a bomb explosion.