Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Residents of villages in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State are living in fear following Saturday’s attack on the country home of Imo Governor, Hope Uzodimma.
Our correspondent gathered that the heightened tension in the area followed indiscriminate arrest of youth by security agents in the aftermath of the attack.
Residents of Omuma, Umuokwe, Awomama and neighbouring Orlu town are said to be on alert as soldiers comb the neighbourhoods apparently in search of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
A resident, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said that the whole town now live in fear.
He said, “We now live in fear because security men are arresting people indiscriminately.
“The youths are leaving their homes in droves because they’re targets of these indiscriminate arrest.”
Our correspondent discovered that even on the streets of Owerri, the state capital, the scenario is reverberating as most major streets are closed or turned to only one way.
The popular Okigwe road roundabouts and Warehouse road leading to Orlu and Omuma, through the Owerri-Onitsha road are jam-packed as security men frisk motorists going to Orlu or Onitsha.
Efforts to speak to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state command, SP, Orlando Ikeokwu, were unsuccessfully as his phones couldn’t be reached.
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