Reports reaching our crime desk revealed that the Biafra agitators started arriving in the Rivers State capital in the early hours of Tuesday, and were first confronted around Eleme Junction, which forced them to change route.
The group from Aba again attempted to converge around Artillery Junction, but had to face stern resistance from the security operatives, who fired gunshots at random in an attempt to disperse them.
The agitators responded by pelting the soldiers with sticks and stones.
However, it was gathered that at least three persons were hit by stray bullets, while one of the protest leaders, who identified himself as Orji Azu-Enaga said two of their members were shot dead around Eleme junction.
“We want to show Nigeria and the United Nations that we the Igbos are one. They used to say that we are not organized. United Nations should come and help us to divorce this forced marriage. We don’t want Nigeria again,” he said.
The rowdy situation on the Port Harcourt-Aba Road forced many commercial transport operators to avoid the route.
Following the development, commuters were left stranded, while those who could not afford to miss their appointment for the day had to trek long distances.
In the meantime, all the bus stops along Aba Road are currently manned by heavily armed security operatives.
Soldiers in dozens of patrol vans are also occupying the Aba Road and East-West Road intersection, also known as Eleme Junction.
Another trouble started when some people who were stopped from joining a group that marched from Aba into Port Harcourt stormed Gambia Street in Mile Two.
The invaders were resisted by the northern traders on Gambia Street, leading to clashes, before security intervention.
Over sixty patrol vans loaded with armed security operatives and four Armoured Personnel Carriers have been deployed in the area.
Two Armoured Personnel Carriers have also been stationed at Ikoku junction, with security patrol vans at every bus stop on Ikwerre road.
Meanwhile, as tension remains high on the streets of Port Harcourt, normalcy has returned to the nearby commercial city of Aba in Abia State, where the pro-Biafran agitators brought activities to a stand-still earlier.
Residents said markets and schools in Aba were forced to close in solidarity with thousands of people who marched on the streets in protest.
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