IMO AGAIN: Gunmen Kidnap Monarch, 7 Chiefs, Attack Police Station, Kidnapped Policeman, Free Suspects
Gun men
Less than seventy-two hours after the widely reported attack on Imo state, a traditional ruler of Umuezie community in Nguru in Aboh Mbaise Council Area of Imo Eze Charles Iroegbu ànd seven members of his cabinet have been kidnapped by gunmen as another police station was also attacked by gunmen, freeing all detained suspects while a policeman was kidnapped in the midnight attack.
Eze Iroegbu was abducted around 6pm alongside his cabinet members on Tuesday.
It was learnt the monarch and his cabinet members were abducted while returning from a traditional wedding ceremony at Ihitte-Uboma council area of the state.
The incident has raised anxiety and thrown the entire community into deep sorrow as the monarch was described as a “charitable giver” who has touched many lives in many communities across the state.
A source close to the traditional ruler who spoke to The Nation on the condition of anonymity, said the incident took place at the popular Seven and Half junction in the Obowo area of the state.
On ransom demand, the source said: “For now, I am not aware of any ransom demand yet.”
A member of the town union, who pleaded not to be named, confirmed the incident, saying that the monarch and cabinet members were abducted by gangsters while coming from a traditional wedding.
Contacted, the police spokesman, Orlando Ikeokwu (SP), said he would get back to us but was yet to as at the time of filing the report.
RegentAfrica Times gathered that the fleeing gunmen struck around 1am and immediately released the suspects in custody in the police facility as well as taking away the phones belonging to suspects and the police operatives at the Division.
While a police source at Division claimed that the gunmen were repelled by the policemen on duty he added that, “We resisted them but they overpowered us. They had more sophisticated weapons. They took all the phones they saw, released the suspects when they gained access and vandalised the police building.”
The source revealed that the attackers kidnapped one police officer and injured two other cops.
In the same vein, community leader, Nokey Ebikam, told newsmen that the police divisional headquarters was not burnt, explaining that the gunmen didn’t raze the police facility but freed the suspects in detention after vandalising the Division.
Another indigene of the area, Darlington Irobi, confirmed the attack on the police facility, adding that the suspects were freed by the rampaging gunmen.
Police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the attack on the police station, adding that one police officer was missing while two others were injured owing to the resistance put by the policemen on duty.
Ikeokwu, also confirmed that some suspects detained in the police facility were freed by the attackers.
He, however assured that the police authority in the state had commenced investigation into the attack, immediately.