Gunmen have killed four police operatives and a woman in Imo State, South-East Nigeria. The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Monday along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Owerri, the state capital.

According to local shop owner Tony Onwumelu, the assailants struck the police checkpoint near Blossom Hotel, killing the four officers. They also fired at passers-by, resulting in the death of a woman who operated a POS business at the junction. She was shot at close range.

Another witness, who wished to remain anonymous, suggested that the attackers might be enforcers of the illegal sit-at-home order due to their indiscriminate shooting. The area has recently seen a rise in gunmen attacks.

A video circulating on WhatsApp shows the aftermath of the attack, with the POS operator's body lying in a pool of blood near her table and chairs. The bodies of the police operatives were also visible—two on the ground and two in their Hilux pickup truck, one in plain clothes.

Imo State Police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the killings, attributing the attack to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The operatives were ambushed while on routine patrol at Irete on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.

Police Commissioner Aboki Danjuma condemned the attacks as "gruesome" and has mobilized tactical units and intelligence resources to track down the perpetrators. Security in Imo State has been deteriorating, with frequent attacks targeting security agencies, government officials, and facilities.

This attack follows a similar incident exactly one month prior, where six people were killed in Okigwe Local Government Area. The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being behind these attacks, although the group has consistently denied involvement. IPOB is advocating for an independent Biafra, separate from the South-East and parts of South-South Nigeria.