Imo resident shot dead

A young man has been killed in Abba in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State.

The young man identified as Fidelis Nnadi was said to have been gunned down by hoodlums along Okwelle- Umuezealaibe road.

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This is the latest in the campaign of violence unleashed on the South East.

Our correspondent gathered that the victim was a member of a local vigilance group.

He was said to have left his village of Ogwuaga to Okwelle to buy some items and on his way back he was spotted by a gang of gunmen passing by the road.

However on sighting him, the hoodlums, who were said to have kidnapped a mother and child elsewhere and were passing through the community identified him as a security agent, stopped, shot him at close range and sped off.

A source in the community said, “I spoke with the security commander and he said that the guy went to Okwele to buy things and on his way back he was caught in the action.

“The kidnappers heading to Okigwe identified him as a security agent and shot him as they drove towards Okigwe. He said he is from Ogwuaga Abba.”

Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, confirmed the incident.

He said the police are investigating the incident.

The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been blamed for many attacks in the region but the group has denied it.

Residents and security operatives have been murdered in different parts of the South East.

Last week, three traditional rulers were killed in Imo State.

The palace of another monarch, still in Imo, was set ablaze after he fled for his life.

On Sunday, three policemen were gunned down at a police station in Ebonyi State.

Efforts to check the widespread violence in the region have not yielded result.