Panic gripped Eziobodo and neighbouring communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State on Wednesday night after armed men invaded the area, shooting sporadically and leaving several residents injured in a late-night attack.
The assault, which affected Eziobodo, Ihiagwa and surrounding villages close to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), reportedly began around 9 p.m., throwing the university host communities into chaos as residents fled for safety.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the attackers struck along bush paths linking the communities, targeting unsuspecting commuters and residents. Some victims said the gunmen emerged from forested areas and opened fire without warning.
A commercial motorcyclist who survived the attack narrated from a clinic where he was receiving treatment for a gunshot wound, describing how he was caught in the crossfire while carrying a passenger.
He explained that he initially noticed a stranded motorcycle on the road and grew suspicious, but was pressured by his passenger to continue the journey. Moments later, armed men reportedly emerged from the bush and attacked.
According to him, two men dressed in black attempted to intercept them, but he sped off before one of the attackers fired at him, striking him during the escape.
Another disturbing video circulating online showed a young boy, said to be about three years old, with a severe injury to his forehead. A man seen in the footage claimed that several people were killed during the invasion, although these accounts have not been independently verified.
Residents also expressed fear and confusion in the aftermath of the attack, with some alleging that armed herders were responsible, claims authorities have not confirmed.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the attackers attempted to abduct a victim along the Umuokwo Ihiagwa–Eziobodo Road but were resisted.
Police spokesperson Henry Okoye said the operation was foiled through the combined efforts of police operatives, local vigilante groups and community members who quickly mobilised in response to the attack.
He added that the victim sustained a gunshot injury and was taken to a hospital, where medical treatment is ongoing.
Following the incident, the police said security deployments had been reinforced in the affected areas, with operatives of the newly created Violent Crime Response Unit also drafted in to track down the attackers.
Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, assured residents that the situation was under control, adding that coordinated intelligence-led operations were underway to apprehend those responsible.
He urged residents to remain calm but vigilant, encouraging them to report suspicious movements or individuals to security agencies for prompt action.
The latest attack adds to growing security concerns in Imo State, where communities in the Owerri West axis have witnessed a series of violent incidents in recent weeks.
Just days earlier, gunmen suspected to be cultists killed two people in Nekede, another community within the same local government area, further heightening fear among residents.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest assault, while security agencies continue investigations into the repeated wave of attacks in the region.
Although the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been linked to some violent incidents in the South-East, the group has consistently denied involvement in such attacks.
