Gunmen kill journalist’s father in Imo

Gunmen have killed the father of Hamilton Onuchukwu, an Owerri-based journalist, at his home in Okporo, Orlu LGA, Imo state.

The gunmen were said to have invaded the victim’s home and shot him in the chest around 8pm on July 29.

Narrating the incident to his colleagues as he wept on Tuesday, Hamilton, a journalist with Newspoint newspaper, Owerri, said his father, who was a retired police officer, was murdered by a two-member gang riding on a motorcycle.

“I loved my father so much. I was too close to him. My father was in our compound at Ubaha Okporo community on the fateful day when two boys riding on a motorcycle arrived and shot him at close range,” he said.

“It happened at about 8pm.”

He said although he had some suspicions, he could not exactly tell why his father was targeted.

“I’m suspecting some persons. He was an ex-policeman. The hoodlums shot him in three places. I feel like taking my life. Do you know that I developed cardiac problems since his demise?” he said.

Hamilton said months earlier, security operatives had visited his community, but while others took to their heels, his father did not.

He said he had reported the incident at the anti-kidnapping unit of the state police command and the public relations unit of the command.

Meanwhile, Michael Abattam, the police spokesperson, did not respond to calls or texts from TheCable on the development when contacted.