Residents of Eziama community in Anambra State have raised an alarm over the alleged killing of innocent civilians by soldiers of the Nigerian Federal troops, who reportedly stormed the village in search of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The once-peaceful village has now been thrown into panic and grief, as terrified villagers either flee or hide in fear of further military actions. According to multiple sources who spoke under the condition of anonymity, the crisis began when soldiers invaded the community targeting one Nwabuwa Jude Rotachi, alleged to be a high-ranking member of IPOB.

Eyewitness accounts say that upon entering the community, the soldiers began shooting indiscriminately, killing several young men in sight. When they arrived at the home of Nwabuwa, they reportedly did not find him. Instead, his 78-year-old father and 6-year-old daughter were said to have been killed on the spot, and the family houses of other members of the Group that were not seen were set ablaze.

Angered by their inability to locate their target, the soldiers allegedly escalated their actions, burning down multiple homes and continuing the violence against residents. The death toll and the number of displaced families remain unclear, as many villagers have since gone into hiding.

“We are being punished for something we know nothing about,” one resident lamented. “These soldiers came like a storm, killing, burning, and destroying everything. Who will speak for us?”

Villagers are now calling on both the state and federal governments to immediately intervene and halt the military actions in Eziama. They also urged authorities to adopt dialogue and justice in addressing the concerns of aggrieved groups, rather than what they describe as “indiscriminate punishment of the innocent.”

As of the time of this report, the whereabouts of Nwabuwa Jude Rotachi remain unknown. The Nigerian Army has yet to release an official statement on the incident.