In a brazen and deadly assault, gunmen killed at least 30 travelers in Nigeria’s volatile southeastern Imo state, Amnesty International revealed on Friday, spotlighting the escalating violence plaguing the region. The attackers, suspected to be members of the outlawed separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), also torched more than 20 vehicles and trucks during the early Thursday morning ambush, leaving a trail of destruction and fear.

The horrific incident unfolded on a major highway, where the assailants, operating in three coordinated groups, barricaded the road around 4:00 a.m. local time. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately before setting vehicles ablaze. The attack has sent shockwaves through the region, already grappling with deep-seated insecurity and separatist tensions.

Imo State Police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the attack but refrained from providing a definitive death toll, citing ongoing investigations. He did, however, disclose that one of the assailants was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement. “A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding,” Okoye stated in an official police release.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria, has been at the center of the region’s unrest. The Nigerian government has designated IPOB as a terrorist organization, accusing it of inciting violence and destabilizing the area. The group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently on trial for terrorism charges, with his court appearance this week coinciding with the deadly attack.

The Biafra region, predominantly inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group, has a fraught history marked by a brutal civil war in the late 1960s that claimed over a million lives. The recent violence underscores the lingering tensions and unresolved grievances in the region, further complicating efforts to restore peace and stability.

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack and ensure that those responsible are held accountable. “This heinous act is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the root causes of violence in the southeast and protect the lives of innocent civilians,” the organization stated in a post on X.

The attack also occurred during a visit by President Bola Tinubu to the region, raising questions about the government’s ability to curb the escalating insecurity. As Nigeria grapples with widespread violence across multiple fronts, the Imo massacre serves as a grim reminder of the challenges facing the nation in its quest for peace and stability.