Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
Gunmen said to be kidnappers Monday night invaded Umuafom in Orogwe community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, and allegedly killed 7 persons said to be security guards, and injured others within the area.
It was gathered that the gunmen came around 9:30 pm and launched attacks in different places within the Orogwe community.
Ikengaonline reports that it was said the kidnappers were angry because they could not get their target who was said to be in a village meeting and that some persons living around were exposing their kidnapping plans.
However, the reported killings did not happen in a single place.
One of the victims was a motorcyclist and he was attacked on his way to Orogwe Junction; he was shot in the leg and his motorcycle stolen from him. He was said to be hospitalised at Federal Medical Center, FMC, Owerri.
Four other persons were shot in a building and another 3 were shot in another location described as Corper’s Lodge in Orogwe.
According to an eyewitness, “They have been camping around the Orogwe terrorising the residents. On Monday they visited a man’s house around the area and they were told that the man went for a meeting out of anger they destroyed that man’s property and vehicles and angrily drove away.
“It was on their way that they killed and chopped off the head of one of the victims whom they felt was an obstacle against what they were doing.”
However, tension has enveloped the Orogwe community, as some residents had fled for fear of further attacks. Some of them were of the view that the hoodlums would return having failed to kidnap who was their target.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the incident but said he could not ascertain yet if those killed were security guards. He said the police were already on the trail of the suspects.
