Death and distrust: Spiralling violence in southeast Nigeria stirs memories of civil war

Security forces and separatists are trading the blame for brutal attacks, yet civilians pay the price in a region where answers and justice are hard to come by, writes Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

Pro-Biafra supporters march through Aba in southeastern Nigeria (AFP/Getty)

Early one morning in October, Ebere Ewike was driving home to his family in the southeastern Nigeria town of Obowo, when he was assaulted by a group of young men who set his car ablaze.

As with many attacks and killings this year in the region – where tensions are rising between separatists and state forces, and the public is increasingly fearful – Mr Ewike’s wife first learned about her husband’s death via messages circulating on WhatsApp.

“We saw photos on WhatsApp of his car burning,” Uzoma Anosike told The Independent. “That’s how we knew what had happened. People who live in the area posted it to warn others not to move around on that day.”