On Tuesday, unknown assailants, believed to be members of the IPOB separatist group, invaded the community of Umudum, Abagana, in Anambra State.
The attack took place in the late hours of the night, and left casualties with severe injuries.
Although the motive for the attack was not immediately known, information later revealed that a community member and his family were the intended target of the attack.
The victim, Mr. Nicodemus Aniafor Nnamchi – a civil servant – and members of his family, had their home raided by the separatist gang.
Mr. Nnamchi, who is also a grassroots politician in the community, and his eldest son survived the savage attack despite sustaining life-threatening wounds.
According to a reliable source, the attackers invaded the house in order to coerce Mr. Nnamchi’s son, Michael Nnamchi, to be conscripted into the separatist group.
It was learnt that the invaders severely tortured the younger Nnamchi and his father after the gang failed to persuade the him to accept their demands to join the group. Michael Nnamchi, the son, had his arm stabbed for his refusal.
The torture also extended to the rest of the family, including the mother, Comfort Mma Nnamchi, and other children, Maryann and Ifechukwu Celestine Nnamchi.
A source, who is a neighbour of the victims, said it was a “bloody night” as the hoodlums started shooting sporadically as they approached the home of Nicodemus Aniafor Nnamchi in order to gain entrance.
“The hoodlums came in large number in a convoy of vehicles. They drove into the street and shot their ways into the compound.
“We heard loud hitting sound, like they were trying to break down the door leading into the house.
“After a while, we started hearing loud screams. The attacked were apparently beating their victims.
“Several gunshots were heard. It was a scary experience. We were not sure if anyone would make it out of the house alive”, the source added.
It was gathered that the hoodlums later threw a petrol bomb into the house, which ignited a fire and affected the roof of the building and a substantial section of the house.
The victims of the attack were later taken to the Abagana Primary Health Centre Abagana where they received treatments for their injuries.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group seeking the independence State of Biafra, has been linked to some deadly attacks in the two regions.
Six days ago, troops of the Nigerian army, killed two suspected IPOB fighters during a shootout with the separatist group, which took place at Akwa in the state.
