At least three people were killed and six others kidnapped when gunmen attacked the Eziobu-Uno Community, Awa, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The attack, which occurred around midday on Thursday, was described by Amnesty International as a “vicious” assault showing “callous disregard for the sanctity of life.”
Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying the attackers invaded the community at about 11:30am and opened fire, apparently targeting specific individuals and houses.
One of the victims, retired teacher Mr Nwankwo Marcel Okeke, said the gunmen came looking for his son, whom they accused of being a “saboteur.”
Okeke said he was abducted after denying knowledge of his son’s whereabouts but was later abandoned when the gunmen noticed his deteriorating health.
He said such attacks had become frequent, with gunmen targeting residents suspected of opposing their agenda.
Amnesty International said the attackers were suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), although criminal and other armed groups also operate in the region under the guise of separatist groups.
The attack has renewed concerns over the worsening insecurity in South-East Nigeria, where killings, kidnappings and intimidation have become recurrent.
A community spokesman alleged that residents had lost confidence in the security agencies, saying families were often afraid to report kidnappings for fear of reprisals or harm to the victims.
IPOB is a separatist organisation seeking the restoration of the defunct Republic of Biafra, which attempted to secede from Nigeria during the 1967–1970 Civil War.
The group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Federal Government in 2017, a designation it rejects.
IPOB officials have also consistently denied responsibility for several violent incidents attributed to it by security agencies.
