TheCable

Six workers are feared to have been killed in Imo, following an attack by gunmen on an oil facility managed by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the state.

The gunmen were said to have attacked the facility located in Asa community, Ohaji Egbema LGA, in the early hours of Monday.

A police officer attached to the facility was also said to have been killed in the attack.

It is not yet clear the persons behind the attack.

Earlier, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had issued a sit-at-home order in protest against the detention of Nnamdi Kanu, its leader who was extradited to Nigeria to face charges bordering on treason and terrorism.

The group had said it would enforce a lockdown every Monday — which it tagged ‘Ghost Monday’ — from August 9, in the south-east, until Kanu is released.

But the group later suspended the order.

An eyewitness from the community alleged that the attack was linked to the suspended sit-at-home order.

“The gunmen were annoyed with the oil company for not obeying the sit-at-home order issued by the IPOB in protest against the continuous detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the resident, who didn’t want to be named, told TheCable.

A few other persons at the facility, TheCable understands, sustained injuries.

Michael Abattam, police spokesperson in the state, who confirmed the attack, said the command has commenced an investigation into the incident.

He added that the police tactical team is “on the trail of the terror group in order to apprehend and prosecute them in accordance with the law”.

TheCable had earlier reported how streets in Imo were deserted, despite IPOB’s cancellation of the sit-at-home order.