Few hours ago, a yet-to-be identified gang of gunmen stormed and opened fire on police cops on a-stop- and – search duty within AA Rano and Global fuel stations area of Irete Onitsha road Imo state.
The location of incident can also be marked by the popular Blossom Hotel police checkpoint, near SaveMore Market Place Irete, Onitsha road in Owerri West, Imo State Nigeria where the gun men on Monday evening shot sporadically at the policemen on stop and search duty, killing four officers, one POS operator and leaving few others injured.
Our correspondent reports that four policemen on stop and search duty along Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state have been reportedly shot dead by unknown gunmen alongside one civilian.
According to an eyewitness, the gunmen also shot a female POS operator during the attack leaving some others injured. But our correspondent confirmed five dead bodies on the spot while yet to be ascertain number of persons were confirmed injured.
The PPRO at the time of filling this report is yet to be briefed to ascertain the identity of the affected police officers that met their Waterloo in Owerri Monday evening as 9News Nigeria reports.
On the spot, We confirmed four policemen on stop and search duty along Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state was shot dead by unknown gunmen.
Some eyewitnesses who claimed to be residents of Irete in Owerri-west LGA of Imo state said fear could not allow them ascertain how many civilians that were also shot at the scene. The people were in high apprehension till press time.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that at the point of unleashing sporadic shootings in Irete every human being in the area took to their heals for safety. And again, it was noted that on Mondays something of such always happen unexpectedly.
However, it was as a result of sit-at-home order that those gun men acted probably to enforce the order, eye witness hinted.
“The gunmen stormed at Blossom Hotel police checkpoint, near SaveMore Market Place Irete within 6:30 and 7pm Monday evening snd shot sporadically at the policemen on stop and search duty, killing four officers on duty instantly.
“They also shot dead a female Point Of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares and rushed to nearby hospital by good care givers.
“Infact, It was horrific. All the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets.
“This road has become a soft spot for them. Last time, they also shot dead several policemen on duty and civilians. Government should beef up security in this area to forestall further occurrences.”
Another indigene who spoke on condition of anonymity said the attackers were enforcers of Monday sit-at-home.
He added, “I didn’t know the Monday sit-at-home is still existing in Imo state. I thought it has been jettisoned, but with what happened today, people will no longer come out on Monday for fear of being killed by unknown gunmen.”
Four cops and a POS operator were confirmed dead in the attack as the non state actors fled. They also attacked Ogbaku Police division patrol vehicle in the process before they fled.
This incident again reminds of the recurring attacks on Security Agents by Gunmen and urgent need to take steps and end the incident in its entirety.
The situation has triggered tension within the Irete Onitsha road axis and Imo at large as our correspondents confirmed scarcity of vehicular and human movement within the area via municipality at press time.
-Princely Onyenwe reporting
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