Gunmen have killed eight community leaders in Imo State, Nigeria’s south-east.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Umucheke Okwe, a community in Onuimo Local Government Area of the state.

Residents told this newspaper that the victims included the President-General of the community, Hyginus Ohazuruike, and seven village chiefs.

A resident of the community, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, said the gunmen stormed the president-general’s shop where he and the village chiefs were having a meeting in the community and opened fire on them.

“Immediately the gunmen got to the shop which is inside the community market, they opened fire on the president-general and others having a meeting with him.

“They killed all the community leaders and burnt the place with their corpses inside,” he said.

Another resident, who identified himself simply as Ejike, said many villagers had run out of the area, especially other local chiefs in the community for fear of another attack.

“We don’t know the people who carried out the attack or why they attacked,” Ejike said.

Apart from Mr Ohazuruike, PREMIUM TIMES identified some of the slain village chiefs as Martin Osigwe, Ofoma Eji, Onuoha, Frederick Obiechefu, Ignatius Onuoha and Chinedu.

The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, did not respond to calls and a text seeking his comments.

Increased attacks
Like other states in Nigeria’s south-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The latest attack occurred less than a week after gunmen killed four police operatives in Owerri, the state capital. Apart from the operatives, a woman – a Point on Sale machine operator – was also killed in the Monday attack.

Simon Ekpa, a controversial Biafra agitator, would later claim responsibility for the killings.

The following day, another police officer, J.C. Ireozor, was killed in a separate attack in Nworiubi, a community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state. Mr Ireozor was killed alongside a resident, Paulinus Mbakwe, during the attack.

Some gunmen, in a similar attack same Tuesday, killed an entrepreneur at Amawire Junction in Orji Community in the Owerri North Local Government Area of the state. The entrepreneur, Okey Nze, was shot dead in his boutique during the attack.

The Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of the south-south Nigeria.

Nlfpmod

OPICANTO2223:
Gun men or fulani herdsmen?

Goodnewsforlife:
Igbos no go talk about this one but they are concerned about what happens in faraway place

Peter obi n madam obby no go put mouth for this one but let it happen anywhere else them go get voice

opamoses1:

Sweetphronesis:
Saw this on channels now. You should post the video.

Chinkoalhaji34:
Na wah!

Peter Obi's government of "hope" really dey shine for SE, abi?

I guess those community leaders were just trying to enjoy the "peace" we hear so much about.

Sweetphronesis:
Saw this on channels now. You should post the video.

The IPOB that they created in anger because of Buhari that denied their son Ekwueme from being president in the 80s has turned around to kill them.

Go and sit in ur GOD FORSAKEN REGION and stop running to the SW in your numbers to insult and disrespect us, our obas and our leaders in our space!!!!


Ingrates!

kaltonga:

Mumu sit down in your erosion raveged village in Oshogbo and stop claiming Lagos.. You type can not fit a sn urban area as Lagos cos you will only end up under the bridge and get deported back to your red mud infested village

Sweetphronesis:


I said GET OUT OF THE SW and SIT IN YOUR REGION. Even in Oshogbo igbos are trooping in like Refugees! Every f**king where. Go and stay with your IPOB.

trutharena:
This is what happens when they refuse to listen to the truth. South-East needs to wake up and face reality, this nonsense must stop!

Ojiofor:
Ih.pob is committing genocide in southeast they should be stopped.

adamusuleiman3:

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/720773-gunmen-kill-eight-community-leaders-in-fresh-attack-in-south-east-nigeria.html