There seems to be several narratives to the unfortunate event that took place in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State after unknown gunmen invaded SARS office on the 1st of October and hacked one officer to death. Punch News and other media organizations had earlier fingered IPOB in the mayhem but a chieftain of the movement who spoke to ElombahNews this afternoon has refuted the claim of Punch News, describing it as lie from the pit of hell.
ElombahNews on the 1st of October reported about the invasion of SARS office located along old Aba road in Oyigbo by unknown gunmen. Reliable sources who spoke to our correspondent over the incident said that the hoodlums carried out the attack in the midnight of 30th September before returning in the morning of 1st October to confront the officers in a physical exchange of naked power.
When ElombahNews contacted one of the chieftain of IPOB in Oyigbo over the claim of Punch News, the Chieftain blatantly condemned the report of Punch News, saying that the media organization is unnecessarily fabricating lies just to taint the image of a non violent organization.
He said, “IPOB is a non violent organization and I wonder what Punch News tends to achieve with their malicious report. We didn’t kill any SARS officer. The report by Punch News is a lie from the pit of hell”.
“IPOB do not carry arms. We are law abiding movement. Those mischief makers are only trying to give us a bad name so that Nigeria police and army will have more excuse to kill Igbo youths at ease. There is no evidence pointing to the fact that it was IPOB that carried out the dastardly act. The enemies of Ndi Igbo just want to cause tension in the Southeast region”.
When ElombahNews asked the Chieftain if he sanctions the attacks on security agents in the Southeast, he said,
“I condemn the attacks against the security agents in the region. It is possible that some hoodlums might have taken advantage of the security situation in the region to foment trouble. I will urge the perpetrators to stop. And I want to also advise IPOB members to continue to remain law abiding people. Our case is already in the global community. We must avoid doing anything that will destroy our credibility.”
However, some residents of Oyigbo who contacted ElombahNews this afternoon have been narrating their ordeal in the hands of security agents since the attack. According to reports, over 30 hilux vans, loaded with men of the Nigerian police have overtaken the city, arresting and intimidating innocent civilians. Major roads have been deserted and police siren is blaring continuously.
Some residents of the city have accused the chairman of the local government for being the cause of the problem. A resident who doesn’t want his name on print because of security reasons told our correspondent that, it was the chairman of Oyigbo LGA that invited SARS into the community and now, their stay has turned sour. People cannot longer go about their businesses.
Residents of Oyigbo have retreated to their homes as Nigerian police embarks on a reprisal attack.