Gunmen on Tuesday morning stormed Iboko community in the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State on Tuesday, killing no fewer than two security guards and two fuel attendants during attacks in the community.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the gunmen disguised as natives, stopped at strategic locations in the community and bought food items before unleashing the mayhem.
According to him, no few than over 500 people in the area, comprising women, traders and pupils, scampered for safety while equally abandoning their wares, when the incident occurred.
A worker at the Ebonyi State High Court, Abakaliki, told our correspondent in confidence that she missed being lynched by the hoodlums, adding the incident was destabilising.
He said, “According to a report, the gunmen first stopped at a popular filling station at Iboko and filled their vehicles with fuel before gunning down two persons there.
“They moved to where the Ebubeagu operatives (now called Neighbourhood Vigilante members) were and opened fire on them, killing one Fredrick Idike and another person.”
The source added, “They equally used an axe to slice two of the vigilante members, whose corpses have been deposited at the mortuary.
“Yesterday was Iboko Market and the ugly incident made the traders to start running for safety.
“The whole market was deserted yesterday because of the ugly incident.”
When contacted, the Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed the incident.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ukandu Joshua, said, “Yes. It happened. Two lives were lost. But we are still investigating.”
