Several residents of Ndi-Imoko Arondizogu in Ideato-North LGA, Imo State, have fled their homes, following a threat by unknown gunmen to invade the community.
In the notice, the gunmen were said to have threatened to invade the area on Monday night.
A source told TheCable that inhabitants of the community fled their homes after receipt of intelligence that gunmen would take over the village.
“We have on good authority that there is a planned invasion of our community on Monday night by unknown gunmen. As I speak, my village is deserted for fear of the unknown,” the resident said.
“Arondizogu has become a war zone for the past three months. The last was the killing of the LGA chairman today by gunmen after holding him captive for five days.
“I call on the Commissioner of Police and the Government of Imo State to come to our rescue because my people are dying one by one.”
Some gunmen terrorising Southeast Nigeria had released a video showing the kidnapped Chairman of Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, Chris Ohizu, on his knees in a bushy area.
Ohizu was last Friday abducted at his home in Imoko community in Arondizuogu town.
The gunmen were said to have shot the chairman first in the leg and bundled him into a waiting car before setting his house ablaze.
In the video obtained by The Quest Times, Ohizu was seen kneeling down in a bushy area.
One of the unknown gunmen was heard in the clip threatening to kill the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma.
He also warned the Nigerian government not to hold the 2023 general elections in the region.
“Hope, hear the voice once again, you see this man kneeling down here, carry that your face up. Hope, I know you must know this man. I want you to watch the video, watch it very well, the way I’m killing this man is the way I’ll kill you very soon,” he was heard saying.
“You think moving around with soldiers, hiring soldiers will solve the problem. Hope, I thought you are a sensible man. I don’t know that you are a foolish idiot.
“Enough is enough. We must fight that Biafra is restored. Hope, whether you people like it or not, as far as Eastern region is concerned, there is no election. We can’t accept that, if not, you people will be dying one after the other.”