Sit-At-Home: Fears As Unknown Gunmen Kill Two

Gunmen have killed a keke operator and a pedestrian person yet to be identified at Akwakuma junction in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo.

The incident happened Saturday afternoon around 1:30 pm when the group thickly armed stormed the junction to enforce the 7-day sit-at-home order thereby shooting sporadically.

The sudden attack coursed pandemonium as traders and buyers including passing scampered for their dear life into different locations.

An eyewitness said that the gunmen stormed the area in a Sienna bus and started shooting sporadically in the air, causing people to scamper for safety.

The tricycle rider whose name was yet to be known, was said to be hunting for passengers at the junction when the gunmen took him unawares at the chest.

This is coming a few hours after part of Orie Amaraku popular market was set on fire alongside some parked vehicles allegedly done by the same enforcers of the sit-at-home order.

A tailor at Akwakuma axis who pleaded anonymity said that another passer-by was also hit by a stray bullet during the attack.

She said, “It was terrible. The junction is currently deserted because of the gunmen. They shot one Keke rider and a pedestrian.

He said: “I was at my shop when the gunshots starting raining in the air. We all ran away in fear. Although, i did not see the gunmen but i heard their gunshots closely. Two people were shot dead.”

A resident of Akwakuma community expressed regret why the criminals struck unchallenged whereas the military checkpoint is nearby.

He said: “If it had been that security agents mounting illegal checkpoints on every inch of our roads and are searching both the occupants and vehicles instead of extorting money, this ugly incident would have been nipped in the bud.”

Another resident said; “If these things could happen in Owerri, capital city, how about the rural communities?”

He asked about the security agencies and state government that advised people to go about their normal businesses and ignore sit-at-home.

According to him whom should they obey going forward? adding is it the government and security agencies who cannot protect the people after advising them to go out or the group that announced sit-at-home? We are in trouble.”

As at the time of filing this report, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, was yet to react to the incident.

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