At least 30 travelers were killed in a highway ambush in Nigeria’s Imo State early Thursday, Amnesty International said, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the region in recent months. The rights group reported that the attackers also torched more than 20 vehicles, including trucks and passenger cars, further stoking concerns over growing insecurity in the country’s southeast.
Although authorities have not confirmed the death toll, Amnesty attributed the attack to suspected members of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement advocating for the independence of southeastern Nigeria.
Imo State police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the incident took place in the early hours of Thursday but declined to specify the number of casualties. He said one assailant was shot dead during an exchange with police. “Security personnel are actively pursuing the attackers, and operations are ongoing to track them down,” Okoye stated on Friday.
In a statement, the police said the attackers operated in three coordinated groups, setting up roadblocks around 4:00 a.m. GMT before opening fire on commuters. The gunmen then set dozens of vehicles ablaze before escaping. Authorities have since launched a “full-scale search and cordon operation,” with officers combing nearby forests and suspected hideouts.
IPOB, which draws its support largely from the Igbo ethnic group, has long pushed for the secession of Nigeria’s southeastern region. The federal government designated the group a terrorist organization in 2017, accusing it of inciting violence and threatening national unity. While IPOB consistently denies links to violent attacks, it is frequently blamed for unrest in the area.
The timing of the attack is notable, coming during a visit to the southeast by President Bola Tinubu. It also follows the court appearance of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu earlier in the week, who is currently on trial for terrorism-related charges. Kanu has remained in custody since his controversial arrest in 2021.
Amnesty International has urged Nigerian authorities to carry out a full and impartial investigation and ensure those responsible are held accountable. The organization emphasized the urgent need to protect civilians and confront the deepening insecurity in the region.
The incident highlights the fragile security environment across parts of Nigeria, where separatist violence, armed banditry, and insurgency continue to pose serious challenges to peace and national cohesion.