Gunmen kill 6 policemen in Imo, 9 suspected herders in Anambra

By Ebube Ngozi,

Gunmen on Monday attacked the Okigwe South Police Area Command headquarters in Orieagu, Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State, left policemen dead, while 9 suspected herders were also feared killed by gunmen in another attack in Anambra State on Monday morning.

Advocate.ng gathered the six policemen, who attempted to repel the assailants, were shot dead; however, the attack on herders’ settlement in Anambra by unknown gunmen shook the community.

The Imo police area command attack it was learnt occurred around 7.00 pm just less than two days after hoodlums attacked the residence of Governor Hope Uzodimma in his Omuma Community, Oru East Local Government Area.

The Nation reports that the gunmen released suspects in custody in the police facility.

The incident, it was gathered, caused serious panic in the area with villagers running to hide inside bushes.

They were equally said to have made away with police weapons.

A source said: “We started hearing gunshots around 7.00 pm and the gunshots became heavier around the Orieagu Market.

“We thought it was the First Bank there that was being robbed until after the attack that we discovered that it was the Area Command.

“It was after about one hour later that some of us emerged from the bushes to check what happened and counted about six policemen lying in the pool of their own blood.”

Imo police spokesperson, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the attack when contacted by The Nation.

He said: “I can confirm an attack on OKIGWE SOUTH AREA COMMAND HQRS, Ehime Mbano LGA, by yet to be identified gunmen; five officers have been killed, while one is yet to be accounted for.

“The building is not razed, please.”

In a related development, No fewer than 9 persons suspected to be herders were feared killed by gunmen in Anambra State on Monday morning according to a police report.

Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the Southeast, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, who resides in Anambra State, alleged that 23 cows were also slaughtered

The incident, according to him, occurred around 2 am at Modiyam Umaru camp in Awkuzu, Oyi local government area.

Sidikki said the gunmen shot repeatedly, which, according to him, scared students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who ran for fear of being harmed.

He said weeping: “I don’t really know what we’ve done to these people, everyday they continue killing our people and their cows.

“In Ebonyi State, our people have been chased out of the place by the people and the remaining ones are still hanging without hope.

“Since we came to Southeast, we’ve been living in peace with our host communities before the monsters came. Honestly, I’m tired of the whole situation.”

Commissioner of Police, Monday Kuryas, had deployed troops to douse tension in the area.

In a statement by Anambra Police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, the Command said investigations had commenced unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He said the Command had successfully restored normalcy in the area.