Hyginus Ohazurike, President-General of the Umucheke Okwe autonomous community in Imo State‘s Onuimo Local Government Area, was reportedly shot dead by assailants on Saturday evening.
The shooters allegedly assassinated six village heads from the autonomous community.
An indigene of the village, who requested anonymity, stated that the gunmen, who were in a vehicle, struck when the victims were meeting in the area.
According to the report, “Some gunmen have just shot dead the President-General of the Umucheke Okwe autonomous community and six village heads.”
“When the attackers arrived, the PG and the village chiefs were meeting at the PG’s shop, which is located in the communal market.
“Upon arrival, the gunmen opened fire, killing all of the community leaders and setting the place on fire. The attack claimed the lives of all the community heads.
The insider, who was visibly concerned, also stated that no one knew why the attack occurred.
He went on to say, “No one knew what the meeting’s agenda was. They were meeting at the PG’s shop when the gunmen arrived. They opened fire, killed all of the village chiefs there, then burned the place down before driving away.”
Following the heinous event, members of the community left their houses.
Emeka Obi, the only administrator of the local government area, acknowledged the killings when phoned and claimed he was addressing his citizens.
He condemned the killings and advised everyone to keep calm.
As of the time of posting this report, Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, has not responded to our correspondent’s inquiry.
Recall that some gunmen previously killed an All Progressives Congress ward chairman and seven others in the same locality.
Last week, beginning on Monday, gunmen killed four police officers and a Point of Sale operator in the Irette community on the Owerri-Onitsha motorway in Owerri, the state capital.
Also on Monday, gunmen stormed Umuelemai intersection in the state’s Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, killing one person and setting fire to a vehicle.
The next day, on Tuesday, several gunmen assassinated a businessman, Okey Nze, also known as Wealthy Empire, at Amawire crossroads in Orji village, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.
On the same day, assailants shot and killed OC Ireozor, a police officer, and Paulinus Mbakwe, a village head, in Nworieubi in the state’s Mbaitoli Local Government Area.