Gunmen set another LG headquarters ablaze, ‘kill police officer’ in Imo

Gunmen have reportedly killed another police officer at the Obowo LGA headquarters in Imo state.

On Tuesday, gunmen killed two security operatives at Isiala-Mbano LGA headquarters before setting the building ablaze.

A resident of the community told TheCable that the police officer had just returned from work, and was resting in his home around 8pm, when the hoodlums invaded the premises and shot him severally on his neck and forehead.

He noted that after killing the officer, the hoodlums burnt down the Obowo LGA headquarters around 6am the next day.

“I am particularly not happy with the porosity of our security network in the state, especially Obowo Local Government Area,” the source said.

“How can an LGA which has three different police formations be using only one patrol vehicle for operations? Officers charter Keke to go for operations. This is most unheard of. How do you now expect good results from the police?

“The young police officer was killed at NEPA bus stop where he lives and these assailants invaded his compound around 8pm and spend more than 45mins in the premises with neither police nor army present. But police divisional headquarters is just about a kilometre from there.

“They invaded the house and started asking people about the police officer. When they found out, they shot him severally on his head. They also stabbed some other inhabitants of the house.

“The most annoying part is that the LGA council headquarters was burnt down the following morning, just six hours after killing of the officer, and you say we have a security network in the state.

“I keep on asking how these gunmen gain entrance into council headquarters surrounded with security agents. How can a police officer be killed in the night and a council headquarter razed down the following morning and no police reinforcement and retaliation?

“This is very confusing. Something drastic needs to be done to stop this menace or the situation will get worse.”

Henry Okoye, police spokesperson in the state, said the command was yet to be briefed about the incident.