Residents of Oriendu in Umualumaku Umueze, in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, are living in fear following the alleged invasion and property destruction by security personnel suspected to be soldiers. This incident occurred one day after unidentified gunmen killed and set ablaze some soldiers, policemen, and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in two patrol vehicles within the community.
A video circulating online depicts the destruction of property in the community, with the narrator suggesting that armed officials were responsible for the act. Fear-stricken residents decried the burning of houses and expressed their innocence in the ongoing turmoil.
Several shops, buildings, and properties, including food shops and bars, were allegedly set ablaze by the rampaging soldiers seeking justice for their fallen colleagues. The roads in the once-quiet village now appear deserted, with only a few residents, who had their properties destroyed, visible in the area.
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One resident captured in the video voiced the community’s grievances, stating, “We have suffered in this community. What do they want us to do in this community? That a crime was committed in this community does not mean that it is Ehime Mbano people who did it. You people should come to our rescue. Shops, bars, event centers, and food stalls were all burned down today by the military men of Nigeria.”
The narrator questioned the fairness of the treatment meted out to the community, asserting that those who suffered the destruction of their shops were innocent of any wrongdoing. As tensions escalate, some locals have reportedly sought refuge in the nearby bush.
In response to the allegations, the Nigerian Army denied any involvement in the attack or the destruction of property in Ehime Mbano, Imo State. The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Officer, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Joseph Akubo, expressed unawareness of such incidents, suggesting that inquiries be directed to the Police Public Relations Officer for further information.
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