An unknown group of armed men killed five police officers and a couple in Imo State on Friday. The incident occurred at Okpala junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. It caused widespread panic, and commercial activities in the area were immediately halted.
According to a witness, the policemen, who were driving a white Hilux van from Abo Mbaise police division, had gone to Okpala junction to eat. While they were eating, the gunmen drove to the scene and opened fire, killing three policemen instantly. Two others ran to a nearby shop, but their attackers caught up with them and killed them along with the couple who owned the shop.
The gunmen then stole the policemen’s five rifles before driving off. The bodies of the deceased were deposited in a mortuary.
The incident has sparked outrage, with many residents of the community in disbelief. The deceased couple had only recently relocated from Lagos to the community, making the incident even more tragic.
The spokesperson for the police in Imo State, Henry Okoye, has yet to comment on the incident. The motive for the attack and the identity of the gunmen are currently unknown, but investigations are ongoing.
The incident has once again highlighted the security challenges faced by many communities in Nigeria, with reports of violent crime and attacks on security personnel and civilians becoming increasingly frequent. It is hoped that the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice and that measures will be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future