On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at approximately 2:30 PM, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated at Eke Ubaheze Market Square in Awo-Idemili, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, resulting in the death of one woman, Ngozi Umeh, and injuries to five others. The Imo State Police Command, through spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed that the explosion occurred when Umeh, a middle-aged trader from Ubaheze village, unknowingly stepped on a landmine suspected to have been planted by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). While local sources claimed up to six deaths, the police confirmed one fatality, with the five injured receiving medical treatment at an undisclosed hospital. The incident caused widespread panic in Ubaheze and surrounding communities, exacerbated by the region’s history of insecurity.
Following a distress call, Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma deployed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, tactical teams, and personnel from Orsu and Orlu Divisions to cordon off the area, evacuate victims, and sweep for additional IEDs, declaring the market safe for resumed activities under enhanced security. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) was tasked with a comprehensive investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. Okoye urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, assuring Imo State of the command’s commitment to rooting out criminal elements. The explosion follows a pattern of IED attacks in Orsu, with previous incidents in 2022 and 2024 targeting security forces and civilians, including a Nigerian Army Major killed in 2022 (Vanguard, September 2022). Posts on X, such as @NNNewsMedia and @NgrImpact, attributed the attack to IPOB/ESN, while @Otowngist emphasized tightened security measures.
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