No less than five persons, including a man who returned to celebrate Easter with his family, were killed on Sunday as soldiers and police battled gunmen in Orlu.
Houses, including a hotel, were burnt during the crisis.
Standard Observers gathered that the gunfight started early on Sunday morning, lasting more than three hours.
Some of the buildings burnt include Inland Guest House which was set ablaze for allegedly harbouring the hoodlums.
The combined military and police operation covered areas such as Banana junction to Timber Shed junction.
Residents of the area said they are living in fear due to reports that the soldiers may come back later at night.
A resident who lives at the Banana junction told Standard Observers that five dead bodies have been recovered including that of a man simply identified as Ndulue who came back from Owerri for the Easter celebration.
