No fewer than 18 people were gruesomely killed in coordinated attacks across several communities in the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State on Sunday.
The incident occurred in the communities of Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihitte Nasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe. Victims were reportedly found with deep machete wounds, fueling outrage and fear among residents.
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who hails from Orsu, drew attention to the killings via his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.
According to reports, the attacks followed the annual masquerade festival celebrated in the affected communities.
After the festivities, some locals, including holiday returnees, gathered at a popular drinking joint in the area. Tragically, nine people at the joint—customers and attendants alike—were later discovered in pools of blood, all with fatal machete wounds.
“We were just a few blocks away, and nobody heard any sound of gunshots or arguments,” a source, who chose to remain anonymous, told Punch.
“We suspect members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) were behind this,” he added.
The source further detailed that three family members were killed in Umukabia, five people in Eziawa, and another five in Ihitte Nasa. All victims bore similar machete cuts, suggesting a coordinated operation.
“Orsu lost 18 promising lives in one day. How this happened without anyone noticing remains a mystery,” the source lamented.
Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations are underway.
“The police are aware of the killings, and Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma has set up a high-powered security team involving different agencies to unravel the case,” Okoye said.
“The CP appeals to residents to remain calm while we work to ensure justice,” he further stated.