Deadly assault in Imo: Gunmen murder cop, burn Police Station

By Peter Okolie

Gunmen launched a violent attack on the peaceful Umulogho community in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State on Wednesday, resulting in the death of a police operative and the torching of a section of the local police station.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the incident occurred at Umulogho by NEPA Junction on the Owerri-Umuahia Road.

The assailants, alleged to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), reportedly arrived in the area in a Sienna bus around 8 p.m. on Tuesday night.

According to sources, the gunmen spent over an hour profiling residents until they identified and brutally killed the officer.

“Upon identifying the man as a police operative, he was tortured with a machete and left to die,” a source from the community, who requested anonymity, told NAN.

The source further revealed that the attackers, operating without resistance, returned in the early hours of Wednesday to set a section of the Divisional Police Station in the area on fire.

Another source mentioned that it took several hours before military personnel responded to the residents’ distress call.

“Imo Police Command and the State Government need to step up the fight against insecurity in the state, especially in the rural areas. It is confusing how there are three different police formations domiciled in one police division—namely the Area Command, Isiweke Police Station, and Obowo Police Division—yet the hoodlums were not challenged.

“It is even more worrisome that the police couldn’t respond because they claimed they did not have any operational vehicle. This is disheartening. It portends danger for residents that there is no security in the area,” the source added.

Another resident urged the state government to establish and equip vigilance groups in every community to support the police in combating violent crimes.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident.

“We received the report and have deployed our tactical unit to go all out to arrest those responsible for the act. As I am talking to you, I am with the Commissioner of Police, and together with other service chiefs, we intend to visit the scene for an on-the-spot assessment.

“We want to equally inspire a certain level of confidence in the officers and residents, so they can go ahead with their duties and businesses without fear,” Okoye stated.