BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
There was pandemonium in Ngor Okpala community in Imo State on Friday as unknown gunmen stormed the area and shot five policemen to death.
The incident which occurred at Ngor Okpala junction also left a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu who hailed from Amankwo Okpala community, dead.
Recalled that unknown gunmen attacks started from Orlu Zone of the state three years ago with heavy devastations.
In 2022, they sprang up around Okigwe Zone and now in Owerri zone with ferocious effects.
A family member of the slain couple told journalists that the policemen drove from neighbouring Aboh Mbaise police Division to eat at the junction where they were ambushed and killed.
According to deceased relation who gave his name as Uche narrated, “the policemen were eating when some gunmen drove to the scene and opened fire on them”.
He said that while three police were shot dead at the scene, two others ran to a nearby shop but their attackers chased them to the shop killed them as well as the couple that owned the shop.
The eyewitness disclosed that after killing the policemen, the gunmen carted away their five riffles.
”It is a black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8am shot five policemen dead at Okpala junction. The policemen drove in a white coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise division to eat at the junction.
“As they were eating gunmen drove to the place and opened fire on them. Two out of the five policemen ran to a nearby shop where a couple sell meat pie and sachet water. After killing the three policemen, they came two the shop where the two other officers were hiding, killed them. They also killed a husband and wife that owned the shop.
“They took away their rifles and drove off. This is so unfortunate. Our community is bleeding. Everybody is confused. The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. They market is shut. People have ran away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.”
Another source, Dominic Okpor told our correspondent that he saw the lifeless bodies of the cops on the road when he drove through the Owerri – Aba Road.
“It is horrible. The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. God have mercy.
Contacted, State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.
Last month, precisely March 27, some fleeing gunmen cut short lives of five personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the same Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state.
Comment here