Tragedy struck again in Rivers State as gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) invaded Ebele–Iba community in Emohua Local Government Area on Wednesday night, killing several residents and burning houses.

When VANGUARD visited the community yesterday it was learnt that heavily armed assailants reportedly stormed the community around 8:20 p.m., shooting indiscriminately at residents who were preparing to retire for the night.

VANGUARD also gathered that the gunmen targeted mostly young men accused of being “saboteurs” for allegedly refusing to join the group’s agitation for an independent Biafra nation.

Two armed policemen guarding a private shopping complex were also shot dead, and their rifles carted away.

Although security operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have since evacuated the bodies, four residents identified as Chidi Osita, Musa Umuru, Chukwuemeka Israel, and Balogun Ezekiel, remain missing as of press time.

The grieving residents who recounted their ordeal appealed to government to beef up security across the country as they have lost many kinsmen.

“Our neighbour, Timothy Balogun, an indigene of Ogun State, lost his twin brother, Igie Balogun, who was shot dead in Lugbe, Abuja, last year after escaping an earlier IPOB assault in Port Harcourt.

“Also, Musa’s father, Mr. Umuru Bello, was from Edo State and had lived here with his family for decades until December 2018 when IPOB carried out similar bloody attack on us. Since then, the whereabouts of Mr. Bello and two of his children, Mohammed and Sanisou, have remained unknown.

“How many casualties can we remember? We are all living in fear because no one is safe. IPOB fighters have gone beyond Southeast, trailing and killing some youths who fled Rivers State to other states after they were labelled traitors because they refused to join the violent agitation”, an elderly woman Mrs. Ejiofor Ada and some residents recounted their ordeals.

They described the latest invasion as a “well-coordinated and unchallenged attack,” accusing security forces of failing to respond promptly.

They recalled similar attacks in 2018 and 2021 that claimed many lives and destroyed properties.

“Since IPOB began its violent agitation for self-rule, Ebele–Iba and other parts of the state have remained under siege. Government has not shown enough capacity to protect us,” another resident said.

It will be recalled that in September 2020, two Hausa residents were reportedly killed in Oyigbo by IPOB members, while in April 2021, four soldiers escorting a convoy in Abua–Odual Local Government Area were ambushed and killed by suspected IPOB gunmen.

Confirming Wednesday’s attack on residents of Ebele – Iba Community, Rivers State Police Command spokesperson DSP Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-Koko described the incident as “an attack too many,” assuring that a full-scale investigation and manhunt for the assailants had commenced.

“Though I was not the Command Public Relations Officer when Ebele – Iba Community came under similar attack few years ago, but I remember our operatives made a handful of arrests, unfortunately our station in that axis was attacked, detained suspects were freed while we lost some of our men, arms and ammunition.

“However, We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice for the victims and their surviving relatives,” DSP Iringe-Koko assured.