Gunmen Kill 8 Soldiers, Policemen, Others In Imo

Gunmen have killed eight security agents comprising soldiers, policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Imo State.

The incident which occurred in Umualumaku community, Ehime Mbano local government area of the state has thrown the entire community into confusion and palpable tension.

The joint security task force team which was in two trucks were ambushed and set ablaze by their attackers.

None of them survived as they were burnt inside their operational vehicles.

An eyewitness who doesn’t want his name mentioned told our correspondent that reinforcement teams had been sent to the scene of the crime with the intent to arrest the suspects and rescue the corpses of the slain security operative.

The witness a resident in the community stressed that he saw the security agents a few minutes before they were set ablaze.

He said that the community had been deserted for fear of the unknown as a result of the ugly development.

Our correspondent saw a video clip of the attack as the security agents set ablaze in the two vehicles.

When contacted, the police public relations officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident but asked for time to get the full details of the development.

Police spokesperson for Imo State command, Henry Okoye confirmed the development and requested for time to get the full details of the killings.

Meanwhile, a civil society organisation, Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria  (HURIWA), has appealed to restive agitators for self-government in the South East to ceasefire and opt for constructive dialogues if they are behind the series of bloody violence.

This is just as the group has strongly condemned the violent killing and burning of armed security forces by a yet to be determined group of armed non state actors in Imo State.

This was made known through a statement by the national coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko.

HURIWA said it is inconceivable that security operatives sent to the state to maintain law and order are subjected to this gruesome and painful death in the hands of a yet to be ascertained bunch of armed non state actors who have thrown Imo State into a state of war, anarchy, doom and bloodbath.