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According to authorities in Nigeria, at least 30 people were killed when gunmen launched a deadly ambush on civilians traveling along a popular highway in the country.

Getting into it: The attack, which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning along the Okigwe-Owerri highway in Imo State, unfolded after gunmen, suspected to be members of the banned separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), barricaded the road and began firing sporadically at passing vehicles. Operating in three coordinated groups, they flagged down commuter buses, trucks, and motorcycles, shooting at occupants and setting more than 20 vehicles on fire. Eyewitnesses reported that many victims were trapped inside the burning vehicles.

Police have since confirmed that one of the gunmen was killed by security forces during the attack. A full-scale cordon-and-search operation is now underway, with security forces combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the attackers are believed to be hiding.

Amnesty International denounced the massacre as a “vicious attack,” accusing the perpetrators of displaying a “callous disregard for the sanctity of life.” The human rights group urged Nigerian authorities to carry out an immediate and transparent investigation, emphasizing the legal obligation under international law to ensure accountability for unlawful killings.