Gunmen on Wednesday attacked Nwakpu Market in Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and shot a motorcyclist on the head.
The gunmen, who went on shooting spree, also set a vehicle ablaze and destroyed property worth millions of Naira.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there have been fear and tension in the state following a sit-at-home order by a faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, led by Simon Ekpa.
The group had on Friday announced a sit-at-home in the South East from December 9 to 14.
The Commander of Ebubeagu security outfit, Friday Nnanna, told newsmen in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, that the attack at Nwakpu Market was not carried out by members of the IPOB.
Nnanna stated that the attack was done by hoodlums suspected to be robbers, who invaded the market.
He said: “What happened was that some boys entered the market to rob traders.
“They are not members of IPOB, but they came into the market with locally-made pistols.
“Right now, investigation is ongoing.
“We are on track to get them.
“We are putting on our touchlight on them to arrest them.”
SP Chris Anyanwu, Spokesman of the Ebonyi State Police Command, also confirmed the attack.