Havoc struck along Owerri-Onitsha Road, late Monday evening, in Owerri, Imo State, when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint and shot dead four policemen on stop and search duty and a lady civilian, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator who was hit by a bullet.
An eyewitness said that the gunmen also shot some pedestrians who were rushed to a nearby hospital, may be that the pedestrians defied the continued harsh and heartrending order of sit-at-home by non-state actors operating in the Southeast.
“The gunmen stormed at Blossom Hotel police checkpoint, near SaveMore Market Place Irete around 6:30pm or thereabout and shot sporadically at the policemen on Stop and Search duty, killing four officers on duty.
“They also shot dead a female point-of-sale operator and some pedestrians who were taking unawares , all the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets”, the eyewitness said.
Other witnesses attributed the attack to enforcers of the Monday sit-at-home order.
However, Aboki Danjuma, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, said that the miscreants responsible for the senseless attack have murdered peace.
In a statement signed by Henry Okoye, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Aboki Danjuma, Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, strongly condemned the attack and gruesome murder of four police operatives and a civilian by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN and has deployed the Command’s Tactical Units with the available operational assets and intelligence to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the attack.
“The Commissioner of Police expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident and vowed that the Command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are all arrested and brought to justice, stressing that the miscreants responsible for the senseless attack have murdered peace.
“The tragic incident serves as a painful reminder of the daily risks and sacrifices Police officers embrace in their unwavering commitment to public safety.
“CP Aboki Danjuma commiserates with the families of the deceased victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.
“The Commissioner of Police calls on the general public, particularly the residents of Ogbaku who may have any information that will assist the Police in apprehending the hoodlums responsible for the attack to report the same at the nearest Police Station or via the Command’s emergency lines 08034773600 or 08098880197”, a statement issued by Okoye said.
