Unidentified gunmen suspected to be enforcing a two-day sit-at-home order allegedly declared by yet to be identified group in South-East, have reportedly carried an attack at Ebebe Junction, in Amike-aba Community of Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The attackers, who struck around 6:20 a. m of Friday, set a vehicle ablaze, while a motorcycle Rider escaped death.

Mr Anayo Chukwuemeka, a resident of the area who spoke to Vanguard explained that the attackers fired several gunshots that got residents panicking and scampering for safety.

“It happened in a flash. But, when the gunshots died down and we came out, we saw that a vehicle has been burnt beyond recognition.

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“The driver of the vehicle, who managed to escape, told us that the gunmen said they are enforcing the sit-at-home declared in protest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Ebonyi.

“A motorcycle owner, who also escaped the attackers’ gunshots, told us that they fired at him but he miraculously dodged the bullets,” Chukwuemeka said.

Also, Mr Simon Onwe, a shop owner in the area, told Vanguard that the attackers came in a vehicle without number plate and shot sporadically into the air and immediately fled.

“I was still inside my shop because I slept there; I heard the gunshots but I discovered later that they left a vehicle burnt beyond recognition while a motorcycle operator told us that he narrowly escaped their bullets.

“It’s so unfortunate that we witnessed such an ugly incident in this area that is usually very peaceful and sprawling with business activities especially at evening periods,” he said.

Meanwhile, a combined team of men of the Nigeria Police and the Ebubeagu Eastern Security Outfit, Ebonyi Command have condoned off the area.

Contacted, Mrs Loveth Odah, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebonyi command, said that the she was yet to get a report of the incident.

“I’m just getting the information from you; I’m not aware of the attack,” Odah said.

Meanwhile, an officer of the command at the scene of the incident told Vanguard on condition of anonymity that the police have organised a manhunt to apprehend the armed criminals.

However, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group agitating for the independent state of Biafra had in a statement signed by Emma Powerful, it’s media and publicity coordinator said that the group has not declared any sit-at-home in South-East. President Muhammadu Buhari had departed Ebonyi State for Abuja, where he is expected to attend a meeting