Two constabularies of the Nigeria Police Force have lost their lives as some yet-to-be identified gunmen during the early hours of Saturday bombed the Umuguma Divisional Police Headquarters situated at the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state.
The gunmen reportedly opened fire at the divisional headquarters after barricading the roads that leads in and out of the station.
Eyewitness noted that they came with guns and Explosive Ordinance Disposals, causing fear among residents of the area who said they fled to the bush for safety.
A resident of the area, who does not want to be mentioned, said, “These guys are mean. On arrival, they blocked the roads, threw their dynamite into the police station and equally opened fire. They now waited to attack officers who ran out for safety.
“Unfortunately, two police constabularies by name Ifeanyi and Iyke were killed. Ifeanyi was from Umunkwo in Umuguma community here. He was a final year student at the Imo state University in Owerri. I knew him. It is just one year now he was recruited. He was trying to scale the fence when they used machete and cut him. He was sliced. The young man died on the spot. This is very unfortunate.
“The second victim, Iyke, was from Avu community. They shot him in one of his legs as he fled. He has been found dead now at a water stand where he possibly went to drink water. This is very unfortunate.”
Our correspondent gathered that it took the effort of fire fighters from Owerri to quench the inferno.
Another source said, “Fire fighters just quenched the fire now. The corpses of the two constabularies are here. They are about to evacuate them. This is very saddening. The entire place is in a state of fear and confusion as we didn’t sleep last night. The sounds of the guns and bombs were too frightening. The invasion was deadly. We are in God’s hands in this state.”
The attack came few hours after the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 9 Umuahia, Isaac Akinmoyede, left the state after a one-day working visit.
