Gunmen ‘shouting no protest,’ kill shop owner, set ablaze truck in Imo
Gunmen on Tuesday were said to have attacked a shop owner, stole his wares, and valuables and shot him dead.
This incident happened at Amawaire in Orji, Owerri North Council Area of Imo State.
At the same time, the gunmen while fleeing attacked a truck said to belong to the Imo state waste management agency and they it ablaze.
According to an eyewitness, “The shop owner bought Mercedes Benz yesterday being (Monday). It was not long after he drove to his shop and before you knew it gunmen drove in, attacked him, shot at him, and that was after stealing from his shop. They robbed him, collected his money and properties.”
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Another eyewitness, who did not want her name mentioned said: “The same gunmen attacked a truck said to belong to Imo State waste management agency. They were shouting that everybody should remain indoors. Sit-at-home that is the message. Do not come out to protest. Nothing like a protest.”
Reacting, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Henry Okoye, said: “Police Operatives have been massively deployed at Orji. The situation is under control. The miscreants responsible for the attacks will certainly be brought to book.”
Also on Monday, gunmen killed four police officers at stop and search checkpoint along Owerri-Onitsha Road.
An eyewitness, who claimed to be a resident of Irete in Owerri-west Local Government Area of the state, said fear couldn’t allow him and others to ascertain how many civilians were also shot.
He said, “The gunmen stormed one of the popular hotels where the police checkpoint was mounted at Irete around 6:30 pm and shot at the four policemen on the stop and search duty, including a Point of Sale operator.
“They also shot dead a female Point of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares and they were all rushed to a nearby hospital. It was horrific. All the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets.
“This road has become a soft spot for them. Last time, they also shot dead several policemen on duty and civilians.
“Government should beef up security in this area to forestall further occurrences.”
Another indigene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attackers were enforcers of Monday sit-at-home.
He added, “I didn’t know the Monday sit-at-home is still existing in Imo state. I thought it had been stopped but with what happened today, people will no longer come out on Monday for fear of being killed by gunmen.”
- Vanguard
