Gunmen have reportedly killed at least 15 people and razed
several vehicles in Okigwe LGA of Imo state.
The gunmen on Thursday afternoon barricaded Okwelle axis of
Okigwe road and unleashed terror on motorists and commuters.
The attackers razed several vehicles, including heavy duty
trucks.
Videos showing trucks in flames along the road have appeared
on social media.
An indigene of Okigwe told TheCable that he narrowly escaped
being shot by the gunmen but the motorcyclist conveying him was hit by the
bullet.
“I narrowly escaped being shot. I was going to Okigwe on a
motorbike without any idea of what was happening,” he said.
“But when we got to Okwelle, we met a serious stampede but
while my driver was taking a u-turn, they shot him in the neck and killed him.
“I was lucky the bullet didn’t touch me as I immediately
made it to the bush for my dear life.”
POLICE BLAME IPOB FOR
ATTACK
A statement by Henry Okoye, Imo police spokesperson, on
Saturday, said the gunmen opened fire on police officers who were mobilised to
the scene of the incident.
Okoye said suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous
Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) are responsible for the attack.
The Imo police spokesperson said the police killed one of
the gunmen.
“Following the violent attack on commuters in Onuimo and
parts of Okigwe by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN
in the early hours of 8th May 2024, operatives of the Imo State Police Command,
in synergy with other security agencies, launched an intelligence-led operation
in Abor-Umulolo, Okigwe LGA of Imo State,” the statement reads.
“The hoodlums on sighting the operatives, opened fire but
were overwhelmed by the superior fire power of the operative. In the ensuing
gun duel, one of the hoodlums was neutralized, while others fled with varying
degrees of bullet wounds.
“A snatched Toyota Corolla with registration number ENU 283
CN and an HP laptop were recovered from the scene. The body of the neutralized
suspect has been deposited at the morgue, while the recovered items are in
police custody for further investigation.
“Meanwhile, an intensive manhunt is ongoing to apprehend the
fleeing suspects and bring them to justice.”
This latest incident highlights the worsening insecurity in
the south-east geopolitical zone amid the detention and trial of Nnamdi Kanu,
IPOB leader.
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