Gunmen Bomb Imo Police Division, Kill Officers

Gunmen in the early hours of Saturday bombed the Umuguma Divisional Police Headquarters situated at the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state.

The attack also led to the death of two police operatives who were on duty.

It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the divisional headquarters with guns and explosive ordnance disposals.

A further report had it that the gunmen after blocking the roads leading in and out of the station immediately opened fire at the divisional headquarters.

The development saw residents of the affected area run into bushes out of fear of being hurt by stray bullets and weapons.

A resident who spoke with Punch on condition of anonymity said, “These guys are mean. On arrival, they blocked the roads, threw their dynamite into the police station and equally opened fire. They now waited to attack officers who ran out for safety.

“Unfortunately, two police constabularies by name of Ifeanyi and Iyke were killed. Ifeanyi was from Umunkwo in the Umuguma community here. He was a final year student at the Imo State University in Owerri. I knew him. It is just one year now he was recruited. He was trying to scale the fence when they used a machete and cut him. He was sliced. The young man died on the spot. This is very unfortunate.

“The second victim, Iyke, was from the Avu community. They shot him in one of his legs as he fled. He has been found dead now at a water stand where he possibly went to drink water. This is very unfortunate.”

It took the effort of firefighters from Owerri to quench the inferno.

Another source said, “Firefighters just quenched the fire now. The corpses of the two constabularies are here. They are about to evacuate them. This is very saddening. The entire place is in a state of fear and confusion as we didn’t sleep last night. The sounds of the guns and bombs were too frightening. The invasion was deadly. We are in God’s hands in this state.”