Police confirm killing of community leaders in Imo

The Imo State Police command confirmed that gunmen killed Victor Ijioma, the traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo, a community in the Oguta Local Government Area (LGA).

The Imo state police spokesperson Henry Okoye said that the Imo state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Barde, has drafted a high-powered team of police officers to track down the gunmen.

“Mr Barde commiserated with the families of Mr Ijioma and the slain prime minister, asking God to grant them the fortitude to bear the sudden losses,” Okoye said.

The gunmen also murdered the traditional prime minister of Mgbele, otherwise known as the Isama of Mgbele, another community in the same council area of Imo.

Police, however, stated that the two victims were killed in separate attacks on Thursday with Ijioma said to have been ambushed and killed at Umuamaka Junction in the neigbouring Izombe, another community in the council area.

The attackers allegedly killed him while he was inside his car. The hoodlums were also alleged to have set the victim’s body ablaze alongside his car after killing him.

Premium Tines reports that sources from the two communities said a joint team of security operatives, comprising the police and the military, had begun combing surrounding bushes in search of the attackers.