Parts of Owerri, Mbaitoli, and environs in Imo State came under attack on Friday afternoon, December 9, 2022, by gunmen who were enforcing the five-day sit-at-home order.

The gunmen struck at different locations and k! lled a policeman, Prince Iheme, elder brother to Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw.

The gunmen also macheted the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke.

It was gathered that the gunmen who rode in Tundra operational vehicles, shot sporadically forcing people to scamper for safety.

While businesses abruptly wound up, the roads were deserted as motorists abandoned their vehicles and ran helter-skelter.

At Orji, near Owerri, the state capital, the gunmen wearing black clothes in three vehicles attacked residents and passersby, including policemen.

Eyewitnesses told Punch that the gunmen met policemen at 7up junction at Orji and shot one cop d£ad.

“They just k! lled policemen now. They opened fire on them and were shouting there is sit at home. We have asked you to go home. Stay indoors,” the witness said.

Another eyewitness said: ” I just escaped death by whiskers now. They stopped before us and asked us to go home. They didn’t shoot at us maybe because I was in the midst of some elderly women.

It was also gathered that the fleeing gunmen also shot repeatedly at Nkwo-Orji market before taking off towards Okigwe Road.

At Ubomri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area, the gunmen attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi.

While Prince Iheme was k! lled on the spot, Eke was matched.

“Prince Iheme was riding in the same vehicle with the commissioner for solid minerals, Martin Eke. Prince Iheme who is Pawpaw’s elder brother was killed on the spot. The commissioner who was sworn in two weeks ago was cut badly. He has just been rushed to a hospital. They were driving in a Ford vehicle. I pray he makes it,” the witness said.

A woman, Onyii Manifestation, and her child also survived the attack at Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.