Gunmen kill seven community leaders in Imo

Gunmen, at the weekend, invaded a meeting ground in Umucheke Okwe Onuimo Local Council of Imo State and killed the President General of the autonomous community, Hyginus Ohazuruike, and six other village heads.

They also set the place, including some of the corpses, ablaze.

According to sources, the community leaders were holding a meeting at the late Ohazuruike’s shop in the community’s market when the hoodlums arrived in a truck, brandishing guns. After the act, they left unchallenged.

Both the Imo police command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, and the Sole Administrator of Onuimo Local Council, Emeka Obi, confirmed the killings.

After the incident, Okoye responded: “This is very unfortunate. The command is saddened by this tragic incident. Investigation is ongoing to unravel the miscreants responsible for this dastardly act and make them face the full wrath of the law.”

The Guardian learnt that a similar incident had happened in the community not long ago when some hoodlums killed the ward chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and seven others.

Monday, last week, along the Owerri – Onitsha Road, in Irete, Owerri West local government council of the state, four policemen were ambushed while on patrol and killed by gunmen.

Also, a Point of Sale (PoS) lady fell victim to a stray bullet. She was said to be preparing for her marriage. A day later, a shop owner was also killed in his shop. Some vehicles were also set ablaze on the outskirts of Owerri, the capital city.