Overview

• At least 30 travellers were killed in a pre-dawn ambush on the Okigwe-Owerri highway in Imo State on May 8, 2025.
• The attackers, suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), barricaded the road and set over 20 vehicles on fire, including trucks and motorcycles.
• A joint tactical team, led by the Imo State police commissioner, has initiated a cordon and search operation in nearby forests to apprehend the assailants.
• One of the attackers was killed during the incident, while authorities continue to pursue the remaining suspects.
• The attack underscores escalating separatist violence in southeastern Nigeria, contributing to the country's broader security challenges.