December 09, (THEWILL) – Gunmen enforcing a sit-at-home order, on Friday, ran amok in Owerri, the Imo State capital, killing a policeman and a resident, Prince Iheme.
Prince Iheme is the elder brother to Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, popularly called Pawpaw.
The gunmen also macheted the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke.
Operating in three vehicles, the gunmen, who drove into Orji (a community sharing boundary with the state capital), attacked residents and passersby, including policemen.
A resident source said, the gunmen intercepted policemen at the 7Up junction at Orji and shot one cop dead.
“They just killed a policeman now. They opened fire on them and were shouting, ‘There is sit-at-home. We have asked you to go home. Stay indoors”, he said.
THEWILL also gathered that the gunmen shot repeatedly at Nkwo Orji market before taking off towards Okigwe Road.
At Ubommiri, in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, the gunmen attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi.
While Prince Iheme was killed on the spot, the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke, was slashed with a machete.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said: “This attack is politically motivated. We just finished at one campaign rally ground and were heading to Ubommiri. Our convoy was attacked at Amawuihe, before Ubommiri.
“Prince Iheme was riding in the same vehicle with the Commissioner for Solid Minerals. Prince Iheme, who is Pawpaw’s elder brother, was killed on the spot. The Commissioner, who was sworn in two weeks ago, was cut badly. He has just been rushed to a hospital. They were driving in a Ford SUV. I pray he makes it.”
The Imo State Police Spokesperson, Michael Abattam, was yet to respond to enquiries about the attacks as of press time.
