Gunmen burn a police van assault traders in Ebonyi.

In the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State’s Ukwuagba-Ngbo community, gunmen on Tuesday set a police patrol van on fire.

The gunmen’s actions were reportedly part of plans to make sure that the Indigenous People of Biafra breakaway group’s one-week sit-at-home ultimatum was followed.

According to reports, the attackers rushed a nearby police roadblock and told the on-duty officers to flee as they set fire to the vehicle.

Remember the IPOB splinter group in the previous week called for a one-week sit-in across the South-East geopolitical zone.

The gunmen also approached the Ebonyi State University’s Ishieke Campus and opened fire irregularly there, in addition to the attack on the Ukwuagba-Ngbo neighborhood of the state.

On Tuesday, they gave riders the order to stop riding and market vendors the order to close their businesses.

Ikechukwu Onwe, the chairman of the Ohaukwu Council Area, denounced the attacks and urged stakeholders to work together to put an end to the criminal activity in the region.

At a security council meeting held on Tuesday at the council’s headquarters in Ezzangbo, Onwe pledged to take all necessary steps to capture the criminals.

In the meantime, the Ebonyi State Government has urged citizens to carry on with their regular activities, claiming that the situation is under control.

A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, said “The Ebonyi State Government has observed with dismay, apprehension in some parts of the state following activities of unknown gunmen.

“The government, therefore, wishes to advise the general public to go about their lawful businesses as security agents are on top of the situation.”