A source residing in the state capital told SaharaReporters that “Shops and major roads in Owerri have been closed and the city is vacant as if there is a curfew.
Shops in Owerri, Imo State capital, were abruptly shut down while major roads in the state capital were deserted on Wednesday as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force clashed with gunmen.
A source residing in the state capital told SaharaReporters that “Shops and major roads in Owerri have been closed and the city is vacant as if there is a curfew.
“I'm still indoors because of the military presence at strategic locations around the city.”
SaharaReportere earlier reported there is pandemonium in Owerri as sporadic shooting is going on across the city.
A security source, Eons Intelligence in a post shared on X attributed the shooting to unknown gunmen attack.
It wrote: "At 11:30 am today 31st July, 2024, Owerri Prison under attack by Unknown gunmen as prison armed Squad in gun duel.
"Reinforcement from military and other security formation ongoing."
It further tweeted, "Report of sporadic shooting across Owerri Municipal by UGM. Suspected Hoodlums also attacked the UBA bank at Wetheral Road.
"Avoid the area until normalcy is restored."
While some witnesses attributed the gunshots to unknown gunmen, sources from Imo State capital, who witnessed the incident had told SaharaReporters that the shooting could not be from unknown gunmen.
According to one of the sources, the shooting is simultaneously going on at the Okigwe road, World Bank, Control, in front of Government House, Onitsha road, Amaku-Ohia - Akwaku road, and Aba road and Wetheral Road.
The source said: "We believe that the Governor Hope Uzodimma and his administration were behind the shooting to scare and send fear to the people who might be planning to come out tomorrow to participate on the nationwide 'Day of Rage' protests against hunger and misgovernance in Nigeria in the state.
"You must have seen the video of Owerri, the State capital, it has been completely deserted. In those videos do you see security agencies moving around to contain it. That shows you that the shooting was government plan to scare would be protesters from coming tomorrow. That is the main agenda.
"Police, military and other security agencies are resided in the capital, with increased checkpoints in every streets in Owerri, from where did the so called gunmen came in from."
However, SaharaReporters' efforts to speak with the State Police Command were unsuccessful as the Command's spokesperson ASP Henry Okoye could not take his call nor respond to a text message as of the time of filing this report.