Soldiers on Monday clashed with an unknown group in Orlu, sending residents scampering for safety.
An eyewitness identified as Chimezie told BBC Igbo that she fled her home to a nearby town.
“Two lanes in the area where I live are surrounded by soldiers,” she said.
BBC Igbo interviewer Precious said he was on his way to Orlu when he met four gunmen on the road.
He added that everyone on the road abandoned their vehicles when they saw what was happening.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu shared a video on Twitter of the incident, accuisng the military of killing unharmed civilians.
Imo police spokesperson Orlando Ikeokwu told the broadcaster he could not speak because he was at a meeting.
