The police in Abia have warned residents against raising a false alarm about imminent attacks by killer herdsmen.

The command’s spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna, gave the warning in Umuahia on Tuesday.

Mr Ogbonna was reacting to the rumour that went viral in Umuahia on Monday night that killer herdsmen had invaded the capital city and its adjoining villages and were ready to attack the people.

The report sparked fear among residents, with many making midnight telephone calls and short messages to friends and relatives, urging them to be alert and vigilant.

Community leaders mobilised the youths, who kept vigil using the local gong to alert residents that danger loomed and asked them to be on guard.

“People should stop raising false alarms so that if anything happens we will know,” Mr Ogbonna said. 

He said the trend, if allowed to continue, would continue to heighten fear and panic among the citizenry.

The alarm spread among the Umuahia Ibeku communities, including Ohokobe, Ohobo-Afara, Ugwunchara, Okwuta, Amuzukwu, Okwulagha-Afara, Isiama-Afaraukwu and Ohokobe-Ndume. 

Residents of Agbama Housing Estate, Amakanma, Old Umuahia, Olokoro and Umuda Isingwu were also alerted to mobilise to ward off the impending attacks.

However, the police spokesman said he had yet to get any formal report on the alleged invasion.

“I also received several calls that communities in Ubakala, Ameke, Iseke, Amuzukwu, Amakanma, Umudike and others had been invaded.

“Even in the area where I live, the community mobilised in the night and kept vigil until this morning.”

Mr Ogbonna, however, said that in spite of the panic and fear generated by the alarm, no community had come to report about any attack.

“I expect people to go to the police stations in their areas to report. Where the station was burnt, like Ubakala, they should feel free to report to the central police station.

“For now, we do not have any report about any attack in any community,” he said.

Meanwhile, socio-economic activities have returned fully in Umuahia metropolis and its environs after Monday’s sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). 

Government offices, banks, markets, roadside shops, malls, plazas, petrol stations, mechanic workshops and vulcanisers opened for business. 

Private and commercial vehicles, including commuter buses and tricycles, have also resumed operation, following the return of normalcy in the town.