There was pandemonium on Tuesday as gunmen invaded some schools in Onitsha and some parts of the Idemili area of Anambra State, chasing pupils out of their classrooms.
The hoodlums, who wielded different weapons, also reportedly stormed markets and public places to chase people away.
It was gathered that the gunmen asked the people to go home to mark the Biafra Day.
Every May 30 is set aside to celebrate Biafra Day, but this year’s edition coincided with the Monday sit-at-home.
A teacher at the Odoapu Primary School, Onitsha, who did not want her name mentioned, said the hoodlums insisted that Tuesday must be used to mark the Biafra Day.
She said, “They stormed the school premises and ordered every child to go home. They said today (Tuesday) is Biafra Day and everybody should leave now. The pupils were chased out of their classrooms.”
The state police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the incident, said some police personnel had been drafted in the affected areas and normalcy had returned.
“Information before me showed that security personnel on patrol accosted some armed criminals obstructing and harassing innocent road users along Amiyi Junction, Ochuche community, in the Ogbaru LGA from going about their daily businesses.
“The operatives stood firm and engaged the hoodlums, which made them flee from the scene. Calm has returned to the area following a robust patrol ongoing now in the area and the situation is being monitored,” Ikenga added.
