Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
Gunmen on Friday night invaded Agwa community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State allegedly killing four police officers and setting ablaze the Agwa police station.
A source who spoke to Ikengaonline from the community said the attack happened in the night when residents were still asleep.
At the time of filing this report the reason for the attack was not known but some community leaders who did not want their names mentioned said the attackers were having their camps in the area and had issued threats to attack the Agwa police division for being a threat to their activities.
However, hours after the attack on the Agwa police division, an eyewitness said security officers in four security patrol vans stormed the neighbouring Izombe community, in the early hours of Saturday where they attempted to arrest some suspects but in the process, the suspects were alleged to have engaged the security operatives which resulted in the burning of cars and houses, many of which belong to residents.
An eyewitness who craved for anonymity for security reasons said: “Joint task force drove into Izombe this morning and started arresting some suspected persons from there; it degenerated into the burning of houses; vehicles were burnt, not less than eight.
“At a point, we called their leadership and they were ordered back. They came in four patrol vans. Also, four policemen were indeed killed in Agwa police station and it was burnt.
“They attacked the Agwa police station Friday night and killed four policemen there. It was from there it extended to the Izombe community where they were trying to arrest some suspects and it led to the burning of cars and houses.
“I think it was the Agwa attack that triggered the Izombe incident. Let us watch the outcome from the security men. We have not heard anything from them,” he said.
At the time of filing this report, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Michael Abattam, was yet to respond to the incident.
