Gunmen Kill Five, Burn Houses in Imo Community
By Janeth John
Suspected non-state actors have killed five people, including a couple, during a violent attack on the Ezinachi community in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.
The victims, identified as Emeka and Blessing Ezeagwula, Ejike Otuonye, Chidi Chineke, and a local vigilante operative, were killed in the early hours of Saturday when gunmen invaded the community, shooting indiscriminately and throwing explosives into residential buildings.
Emeka Ezeagwula was reported to be the coordinator of the Rebuild Imo political group in Okigwe LGA. The group is affiliated with a former governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the assailants may have targeted the newly appointed security leader of Okigwe LGA, although it remains unclear whether he was harmed in the attack, as his whereabouts are still unknown.
Several homes were also set ablaze, and others were injured in the assault, sparking panic across the area.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, described the attack as “very unfortunate.” He said the command had launched a full-scale investigation and was actively pursuing the perpetrators.
“We are making significant progress in our efforts to apprehend the hoodlums responsible for this heinous act and bring them to justice,” Okoye stated.
The Okigwe axis has become a hotspot for violent crimes in recent years, including killings, kidnappings, armed robberies, and frequent attacks on travelers. These persistent security challenges have led to mass displacement, with many residents—both indigenes and non-indigenes—fleeing the area for safety.
