It was a black Friday in Owerri, Imo state capital, when gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home order went on rampage, killing a policeman and a brother of Nollywood star, Osita Iheme.
The gunmen operated in Owerri metropolis and Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Orlu-Owerri road forcing people to stay indoors.
The policeman was killed at 7-Up junction in Orji, along the Owerri-Okigwe road while on a patrol with his colleagues, while the senior Iheme fell from bullets rained on the car of the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke, with whom he was having a ride with along Mbaitoli road.
While Iheme died on the spot, the commissioner sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital.
Gunmen kill 1, abduct 8 others in Abuja suburb
How gunmen abducted ex-female corps member from father’s house in Abuja
Along the same road, they encountered the convoy of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi, who was on a campaign trail.
The gunmen who rode in Tundra Utility Car shot indiscriminately, forcing people to run for safety.
Immediately news of the attack went round, shop owners hurriedly closed for the day while bus drivers caused a stir when they abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the road and scampered for safety.
Our correspondent also gathered that the fleeing gunmen fired shot indiscriminately into at Nkwo-Orji market forcing market women to run helter-skelter.
Mike Abattam, the police spokesman did not respond to inquiries on the matter.
