An armed gang on Friday morning shot dead seven persons – five policemen and a couple – at Okpala junction in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.
While the policemen were attacked at a restaurant, where they had gone to eat, three of them were killed on the spot and the two other officers reportedly managed to escape to a nearby local store owned by the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Chinaka Nwagu.
But the gunmen were said to have pursued the two police men into the store and shot them dead with the couple.
After killing the officers, their rifles were said to have been carted away by the gunmen.
A source in the area, who pleaded anonymity, said: “The dead officers traveled from the nearby Abo Mbaise police division to eat at the junction. Some gunmen suddenly arrived on the spot and started shooting at the policemen who were eating in the restaurant.
“While three police officers were killed an the spot, the two others fled and took refuge in a store owned by the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Chinaka Nwagu, who were from the Amankwo Okpala community. The gunmen killed all of them right there. After the killing, the gunmen took away the riffles of the police officers.
“Business activities in the entire neighbourhood immediately came to an end. This is very regrettable. Our neighborhood is in pain. Everyone is perplexed. About a year ago, the couple moved from Lagos. The market has closed. Out of shock and panic, people have fled. I can’t believe this.”
A resident, Emeka Ndukwu, who claimed to have driven via the Owerri-Aba Road, said he saw the dead bodies of the police officers.
He said: “This is awful. As we passed by, the five policemen’s bodies were on the road. At the crossroads, their Hilux was also parked. It was an awful scene. This is awful. God be merciful.”
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command’s spokesman, Henry Okoye, said a manhunt for the killers of five police officers and the couple has started.
According to him, the command’s Tactical and Operational Teams has been deployed to the area and that security has been beefed up in the area to increase public confidence.
Okoye, who spoke with journalists on the incident, said: “The command has deployed tactical and operational teams to the area for constant patrol and in search of those behind this dastardly act. We are closing in on them.
“Corpses of the operatives have been evacuated and deposited in a morgue. But we are appealing to members of the public to go about their lawful businesses without fear.”
