Gunmen have killed no fewer than seven persons in coordinated attacks on three communities, Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno in Arondizuogu North Local Government Area of Imo State, on Friday.
According to the report, the gunmen were said to have stormed the areas on a motorbike and started shooting sporadically, wounding several villagers.
Most of the people that were Wounded in the attack included shop owners, their customers, and passersby, witnesses reported.
A resident in one of the communities who pleaded anonymity, said the victims were either drinking at bars, selling goods, attending to customers, or playing draught when the attackers struck.
The source said, “The people who died were in different bars drinking, or were the people selling and attending to their customers. I heard they also shot at people who were playing a draft game to while away time. As I speak to you, about 12 people are lying dead, and many are critically injured due to running to seek safety.”
Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, also confirmed the death of not less than seven persons and several others injured.
Meanwhile, the police says it is suspecting members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network to have carries out the attack.
According to Okoye, the affected communities have returned to normalcy after security operatives and tactical teams were deployed to the areas.
The police spokesperson also revealed that the state Commissioner of police led the tactical units to comb the affected areas and affirmed that the situation was under control.
He stated; “The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has strongly condemned the gruesome attack carried out by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN… at Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno, all in Arondizuogu, Ideato North LGA.
“The senseless assault, which claimed the lives of over seven persons and left several others critically injured, was described by the CP as barbaric, inhumane, and totally unacceptable. He assured the public that the Command has deployed adequate operational and intelligence assets to identify, apprehend, and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
