From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Worried by the recent killing of seven security guards at Umuafom, Orogwe in Owerri West Local Government Area of the State, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, has called for immediate investigation into the incident, even as he alleged that the act was perpetrated by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Barde, in a statement by the command”s spokesperson, Michael Abattam, regretted that the hoodlums, who came in a black Lexus SUV and three motorcycles, had escaped before his men arrived the scene almost immediately, however, added that they were given a hot chase.
He said: “On 01/8/2022, at about 2200hrs, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ogbaku Divisional Police Headquarters Owerri, lmo State, got a distress call that armed bandits suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its arm affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), came in a black Lexus SUV and three motorcycles carrying two people each, shooting sporadically at the occupants in a building at Orogwe, Owerri West LGA, Imo State.
“The Divisional Police Officer, swiftly mobilised his men with the support of a detachment of the command’s tactical teams to the scene, on arrival the hoodlums had escaped almost immediately, snatching a blue coloured Toyota Sienna SUV vehicle.
“And the Command’s tactical team speedily went on their trail, while the DPO and his men rushed the injured ones to Federal Medical Centre Owerri, and evacuated the bodies to the mortuary. Regrettably, a total of seven people lost their lives in the attack, while six others sustained injuries and were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Imo State.”
Also, the CP disclosed that the number of wounded people is now six as against two that was widely reported in the media.
Meanwhile, the CP has assured that the Command will go all out in ensuring that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.