Suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) militia unleashed terror on a restaurant near Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Uli on March 20, 2025, killing five people in a midday assault.
Intelligence sources informed Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred around 12:30 p.m. when approximately six armed assailants rolled into Acuvic Kitchen in a black Lexus SUV. “The hoodlums opened fire on diners, including members of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG),” the sources reported. The barrage claimed the lives of Okechukwu Iriakano, an AVG member; Ifeanyi Esenwaka from Umuoma Community; an unidentified middle-aged man; an unnamed commercial motorcyclist; and a female relative of the restaurant owner.
Truth Live News learnt that Joint military and police forces rushed to the scene, but the gunmen had already escaped. The victims were transported to Arch Angel Hospital in Uli, where they were pronounced dead on arrival. Their bodies have been placed in the hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.
In the aftermath, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police and the Commanding Officer of the Artillery Support Regiment in Onitsha visited the site for an on-the-spot assessment. Security forces have since launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, with investigations underway to bring the culprits to justice.
The deadly attack has heightened tensions in the region, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed militias.