The sit-at-home order issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) turned bloody on Monday as a passenger, who was trapped in a bus, was burnt alive in Nkwogu, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
Commercial activities were grounded in most parts of the state as residents observed the order.
Schools were also shut while students sitting for NECO examination were reportedly prevented from taking their exams.
It was gathered that the victim was inside one of the three buses that were set ablaze by a mob.
The buses were said to be coming from Umuahia, Abia State capital, when they ran into a group of suspected members of IPOB, who shot at the tyres, forcing the buses to stop.
The passengers of the buses ran for their lives, while one of the drivers was reportedly shot on the hip.
The passenger, who was killed, could not escape before the bus was burnt down.
Recall that on July 29, IPOB threatened to a weekly lockdown of the South East over the detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement by the group’s Head, Directorate of State, Chika Edoziem, IPOB issued an 11-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to release Kanu on or before August 8th, 2021.
The statement read, “The global community knows that self-determination is not a crime, the Nigerian government equally know that self-determination does not constitute any known offence stipulated in their constitution and therefore do not have any case against the leader of IPOB, Mazi Kanu.
“In recognition of the above fact and truth, the Directorate of State of IPOB, demands herewith an unconditional and immediate release of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on or before the 8th day of August 2021, failing which we shall commence a weekly Lockdown of Biafra land starting from 9th August, 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt this total lockdown of Biafra land will take place every Monday until our leader is released unconditionally.
“This weekly lockdown is simply one of the measures we shall put in place to ensure that our leader is released hale and hearty.”
