Crime

4 killed in Imo, expatriates kidnapped as gunmen enforce sit-at-home

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2022

Gunmen enforcing sit-at-home on Friday evening killed four persons at two locations on Owerri-Okigwe Road in Imo State.

The gunmen also kidnapped two expatriates supervising the ongoing construction of the phase 11 of the Owerri-Okigwe Road.The killings occurred at Umunachi in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state and at Umuna in the Onuimo LGA, respectively.

The expatriates were kidnapped at Umunachi after two persons suspected to be their security aides were suspectedly brought down.

The expatriates who are staff of German construction giants, Cremburg, were taken away immediately the gunmen struck.

Locals told our correspondent that the fleeing suspects operated in three vehicles.

At Umuna junction, the gunmen opened fire and killed two persons.

Our correspondent saw a video footage where two young men were lying in the pool of their blood at Umuna.

An eyewitness said, ” They just killed these two men now at Umuna. This act was carried out by gunmen enforcing sit-at-home. This just happened now now. We are now afraid.”

Gunmen had also in the afternoon of Friday killed prince Chidi Iheme, elder brother to Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw.

The state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke, whom he was riding in the same vehicle with, was badly injured with machete.

Meanwhile, Akarachi has condemned the killing of Iheme, whom he described as one of his supporters.

The politician in a statement issued by his media aide, Darlington Irobi, on Friday night, also condemned the attack on the commissioner.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the politician prayed for the quick recovery of the injured commissioner.

The statement read, “It is with deepest knowledge of regrets, sense of personal loss and concern we write to condemn the ugly incident that occurred today at Amawuihe Autonomous community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.

“The information of the sporadic shooting at Amawuihe Ubomiri in Mbaitoli Local Government Area that claimed the life of an APC strong supporter, Prince Chidi Iheme, while we were at Egbeada Community canvassing for votes, is quite regrettable.

“We also decry the deadly attack on the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke, who was riding in the same vehicle with Prince Iheme.

“While condemning the act, we deeply sympathise with the Iheme family of the Amawuihe Autonomous Community and ask God to show them the mercy of comfort to bear this irreparable loss.

“We also wish Hon Eke speedy recovery as we will do everything possible to assist him comeback to his feet as quickly as possible.”

Crime

Anambra Police Burst Gunmen Armoury in Orumba

Published

3 days ago

May 7, 2026

Everydaynewsngr

By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Violent Crime Response Unit of the Anambra State Police Command has uncovered and destroyed an armoury belonging to suspected separatist gunmen at Owerre-Ezukala in Orumba South Local Government Area.
The operation, led by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Orebe Chidubem Matthew, followed intelligence obtained from a member of the gang currently in police custody.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police disclosed that the camp had previously been dislodged by a Joint Task Force on security operations. However, some members of the gang who escaped during the earlier raid reportedly regrouped and attempted to resume operations.
According to the statement, items recovered from the armoury include one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 locally-made Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), one locally-made Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three hand grenades, 10 rounds of K2 live ammunition, one gas cylinder, and one black Ecolac box.
“Recall that the camp was earlier destroyed by a Joint Security Team. Before the confession by the suspect in custody, intelligence had been received over time on how some escaped gang members were attempting to regroup. However, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit resisted and dismantled the camp following a gun duel with the unrepentant members,” the statement read.
The police further stated that some of the armed suspects fled the scene with varying degrees of bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect in custody confessed to involvement in several violent attacks across Anambra State, including attacks on police facilities, the killing of security personnel comprising police, military, and civil defence officers, attacks on government facilities, and the murder of security operatives on stop-and-search duties on various roads in the state.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, noted that with the establishment of the Violent Crime Response Unit, operatives of the command are now better positioned and more motivated to sustain offensive operations against criminal elements threatening the peace and security of the state.