No fewer than three suspected hoodlums were reportedly killed by soldiers in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, forcing people to observe the sit-at-home, despite its suspension by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday.

This was disclosed by Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Raymond Utsaha, who led other commanders for an on-the-spot assessment around Umuonyenwere Umuowa community of Ngor-Okpala, where the clash took place between the Military and the suspected hoodlums.

Brigadier-General Utash was in the community to thank them for their corporation with the military in giving out intelligence on the activities of the hoodlums and how to track them.

However, when Vanguard called the Army Public Relations Officer, Captian Babatunde Zubairu, to confirm if there was any casualty on the side of the military and how many of the hoodlums were arrested, he neither picked calls nor responded to the text messages sent to him.

However, an intelligence officer said: “The armed hoodlums were busy enforcing the sit-at-home order, forcing people to close their businesses in the various communities, collecting their valuables.

“Three of the hoodlums were killed by the military and an SUV Toyota Rav4 was recovered from them.

“They started snatching of vehicles from Imerienwe. One of the suspects, who later died, gave the military vital information on the location of other suspects, including those who sustained gunshot injuries.

“He gave his name as Chigozie Odimene a native of Umubi Oparanadim community in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government.”

Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News / August 31, 2021