Four police officers lost their lives on Monday evening when gunmen launched a surprise attack at a checkpoint along the Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state, where the officers were carrying out a routine stop-and-search duty.
A resident of Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the scene, saying that the atmosphere of fear was so intense that he and others were unable to determine the exact number of civilians who may have also been injured or killed in the shooting.
He said, “The gunmen stormed one of the popular hotels where the police checkpoint was mounted at Irete around 6:30 pm and shot at the four policemen on a stop-and-search duty, including a Point of Sale operator.
“They also shot dead a female Point Of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares and rushed to a nearby hospital. It was horrific. All the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets.
“This road has become a soft spot for them. Last time, they also shot dead several policemen on duty and civilians.
“Government should beef up security in this area to forestall further occurrences.”
Another indigene who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said the attackers were enforcers of the Monday sit-at-home order in the South-East.
He added, “I didn’t know the Monday sit-at-home is still existing in Imo State. I thought it had been stopped but with what happened today, people will no longer come out on Monday for fear of being killed by gunmen.”
Efforts to reach the Imo State Police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to a text message sent to him at the time this report was filed.
