Tragedy in Imo: 30 Killed as Gunmen Launch Deadly Ambush on Travellers
Wafric News – May 9, 2025
Imo State, Nigeria — Tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday as heavily armed gunmen launched a brutal ambush on travellers along the Okigwe-Owerri highway in southeast Nigeria, killing at least 30 innocent people and torching over 20 vehicles in what has been described as a “vicious and calculated” massacre.
Imo State, Nigeria — Tragedy unfolded in the early hours of Thursday as heavily armed gunmen launched a brutal ambush on travellers along the Okigwe-Owerri highway in southeast Nigeria, killing at least 30 innocent people and torching over 20 vehicles in what has been described as a “vicious and calculated” massacre.
According to Amnesty International, the attackers—believed to be linked to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)—struck with deadly precision, targeting commuters and truck drivers in Umuna, Onuimo Local Government Area, leaving charred remains of buses and lives in their wake.
“The attack shows a callous disregard for the sanctity of life,” Amnesty declared in a statement shared on X. “The Nigerian authorities must urgently investigate and ensure justice is served. This is not just a local tragedy—it’s a human rights crisis.”
The Okigwe-Owerri axis, already notorious for rising insecurity, is now once again the centre of national grief and fear. Eyewitnesses describe scenes of horror—bodies strewn across the roadside and vehicles burning long after the attackers vanished into the surrounding forest.
While the Imo State Police confirmed the attack, spokesperson Henry Okoye declined to verify the reported death toll but stated that one of the attackers was gunned down during a police response.
A police statement revealed that the assailants operated in three coordinated units, launching their ambush around 4:00 am GMT. Security forces have since launched a cordon and search operation, scouring nearby forests for the perpetrators.
Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, led a joint tactical team—including officers from the Nigerian Army, State Security Service (SSS), and police anti-terror squads—to the scene, which remains under heavy patrol.
IPOB, outlawed by the Nigerian government, has repeatedly agitated for the secession of southeastern Nigeria, arguing historical and systemic marginalisation of the Igbo people. While IPOB denies targeting civilians, security agencies have continued to link the group to attacks in the region.
This latest bloodshed reopens the painful scars of Nigeria’s Biafran War (1967–1970), which claimed over a million lives, and underscores the ongoing tension between federal authority and separatist demands still simmering decades later.
As the nation reels from yet another grim chapter of violence, Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian government to ensure justice is not delayed, stating clearly that “impunity only emboldens more bloodshed.”
WafricNews continues to follow the story and will provide verified updates as investigations deepen.
By WafricNews Desk.
By WafricNews Desk.
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