By Cajetan Mmuta
Many were feared seriously injured during a bloody clash in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday when suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) engaged the police in a fierce gun battle for over three hours.
The incident happened at Osumoghu junction in Orsu local government area in Imo state and a neighboring community to Ihiala town, as the Supplementary Governorship Elections in the local government area were going on.
However, a team of joint security operatives was quickly drafted to the troubled spot which led to the blockage of the Osumoghu junction bordering Imo State.
It was learned that the suspected IPOB loyalists were out to disrupt the ongoing election in the Ihiala council area of Anambra State.
Following the gun battle, passerby and media men monitoring the poll in parts of the local government were ordered by security agents to go back for fear of being hit by stray bullets.
Ihiala supplementary poll witness delay of election materials, personnel
One of the security agents close to the troubled spot told the newsmen to, “Find yourself out of this place. Your brothers (suspected IPOB members) have engaged here for over three hours. Some of them are still inside the forest. Just find your way out of this place for your safety ”
As at the time of this report, efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command DSP Tochukwu Ikenga failed.
