Unknown Gunmen kill 8 soldiers, policemen, others, burn 2 vehicles in Imo attack

BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Fear of uncertainty has gripped residents of Oriagu community in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State following the attack of security operatives by unknown gunmen which led to the death of eight soldiers and others.

Two vehicles were set ablaze during the bloody attack.

An eyewitness told newsmen that the incident happened at about 11:30am in Oriagu, around the Aba branch in Ehime Mbano council area of Imo state.

The security agents affected were soldiers, policemen and men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

The video clip of the attack, which went viral, saw about four lifeless bodies of soldiers in their uniforms and their guns.

At the time of filing this report, it was said that the road leading to the scene of the incident had been condoned off.

Tension continued to rise within and outside the affected community.

According to the eyewitness, “The incident just happened about two hours ago. At first, I saw the two Hilux vehicles as they drove from Oriagu heading to the Aba branch in Ehime Mbano.

“As I am talking to you now the Hilux vehicles are still on fire. The soldiers were burnt by the gunmen.

“Tension is everywhere. We have closed our shops. We are going home. We are seeing a lot of security operatives.

“They blocked the road. People are running to our homes. Our people are afraid anything can happen now.

“The first vehicle, I saw over five soldiers. In the second, I saw more than four security operatives. They said all of them were killed.”

At the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, was yet to respond to the enquiry.

SOURCE: Vanguard

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.