Bloodbath in Imo: Gunmen kill two cops, three civilians in broad daylight
In a shocking incident, gunmen killed two police officers and three civilians in Imo state on Monday, sparking panic and fear among the residents.
According to PRISTINEGIST, the gunmen were on a robbery spree and had earlier killed a point of sale (POS) operator at Ohii junction in Owerri-west LGA of Imo state. They then encountered the police officers who were on stop and search duty and opened fire on them, killing them on the spot.
A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the police officers were caught unaware by the gunmen who killed them before they could mount any defence.
“Two policemen have just been shot dead by unknown gunmen. Three other civilians including a POS operator were also shot dead,” the witness said.
The witness added that the gunmen escaped with the police officers’ rifles and the money they had robbed from the POS operator.
The state police command confirmed the incident and said it had launched a manhunt for the gunmen. The command also appealed to the public to provide any useful information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
The incident comes amid the rising insecurity and violence in Imo state, which has witnessed several attacks on security formations and government facilities in recent months. The state governor, Hope Uzodinma, has blamed the attacks on secessionist groups and political opponents, and vowed to restore peace and order in the state.
