In Owerri, the capital of Imo State, three gunmen shot and killed Mr. and Mrs. Sampson Owobo on Sunday night.
According to reports, Owobo was an Edo State native and a former assistant superintendent of police.
The incident, which occurred at around 8 p.m. outside the Chisco Transport Company office close to the Owerri Area Police Command Office, which also serves as the headquarters for the Owerri Urban Police Division, at Egbu Road in the state capital of Owerri, confused the locals and business owners.
While residents ran inside and locked all entrances to their apartments, business owners locked their doors and fled.
The couple who run a Point of Sale business and their bag containing the unknown amount of money were being pursued by fleeing armed robbers who operated in a vehicle, according to an eyewitness who does not want to be named.
The distressed eyewitness claimed that after the three-man gang failed to take the bag of cash, they shot the retired ASP at close range in the forehead, just above his eyes.
Additionally, at a close range, his wife was shot at her left side, just above the chest.
While the husband passed away right there, the couple’s wife was taken by policemen to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri where she was later pronounced dead.
He declared, “A husband and his wife were just killed by three armed men. This incident took place at the fire department on Egbu Road in Owerri, which is close to the offices of the Chisco Transport Company and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional Headquarters.
“The armed robbers were carrying pump action rifles and were trying to carry a bag containing money. The husband and wife run a POS business and also sell loaves of bread. When they could not succeed in carrying the bag of money, they shot the couple at close range.
“They shot the man on a closed range at his forehead, close to his eyes. They shot his wife at close range too, at her left-hand side, very close to her chest. While the man died immediately, his wife, who was bleeding profusely, was pronounced dead at FMC-Owerri.
“The man’s name is Sampson Owobo. He hails from Edo State. He is a retired police officer. He retired with the rank of ASP. He retired about five years ago or so.
“The armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri Fire Service Police Area Command Headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional Headquarters.”
In response to inquiries, Henry Okoye, a spokesman for the state’s police department, confirmed the couple’s murder and said that authorities were pursuing the suspects who had fled.
“The murder of the couple is highly condemnable. The CP frowns at the killing of the couple, and he has immediately ordered an investigation into their killings with the mandate to apprehend the fleeing criminals.” Okoye said.