Police launch manhunt for assailants of landowner in Imo

By Peter Okolie

The Police Command in Imo has launched manhunt for killers of a yet-to-be-identified man, who was killed while inspecting his newly purchased land in Imo on Sunday.

The Imo police spokesman,  Henry Okoye, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday in Owerri.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assailants also abducted the victim’s wife who had accompanied her husband to inspect the land.

“The command has swung into action with a view to rescuing the woman and arresting the suspects.

“The command is aware of this unfortunate incident and has commenced a vigorous operation to uncover the miscreants responsible for the act and ensure they face the full wrath of the law,” Okoye said.

NAN gathered that the unfortunate incident occurred around 4p.m., at Irette Road, Golden Estate, Abba Father Avenue, Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the couple were in their Highlander SUV when the tragedy occurred.

According to the eyewitness, they were in company of two other land agents to inspect a piece of land they had bought when they were attacked.

“The man was driving with his wife and two agents in his Highlander jeep when masked men carrying guns attacked them.

“He escaped while they held his wife, but later returned to check the whereabouts of his wife.

“They tried to also kidnap him but he resisted them and they killed him immediately and abducted his wife,” the source said.

The eye witness said that the hoodlums moved into the forest with the woman and abandoned the vehicle at the scene of the crime.

The eyewitness further added that the two agents escaped, leaving one of them with severe injuries.

“Policemen later arrived the scene and evacuated the corpse,” the eyewitness stressed.

Another eyewitness said that nobody had been able to identify the couple since the incident occurred.”

(NAN)