Gunmen Kill Imo APC Ward Chairman, Kidnap 8 Others

Gunmen yesterday killed Christian Ihim, the ward chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Umuchoke ward, Okwe, Onuimo local government area of Imo State.

The gunmen after killing the ward chairman, kidnapped five other chieftains of the ruling party in the community.

Community source told LEADERSHIP that the attackers shot repeatedly all through the night making the villagers flee for safety.

Apart from killing and kidnapping the APC chieftains, the gunmen also invaded a neighbouring community Okwelle and kidnapped a female member of the APC identified as Onyinyechi Egenti.

The slain chairman is said to be a former aide of the immediate past national organising secretary of APC Barr, Emma Ibediro.

One of the sources stressed that the community has been deserted.

A source said, “The ward chairman of APC in Umuchoke Okwe in Onuimo local government area has been killed. Apart from killing him they also kidnapped five APC members in the community. They also went to Okwelle community and kidnapped an APC female member known as Onyinyechi Egenti. Our community is on the run now. They shot like it was a war period.”

Also, gunmen have kidnapped two community leaders in Ogbaku in the Mbaitoli LGA of the state.

The abduction of the two community leaders had put the community in a state of confusion.

The victims were identified as Fidelis Nwaebele and Kelechi Iherizie.

A source in the community stressed that “they came around 9pm.  They drove to Fidelis Nwaebele house, released several gunshots and caught him. They later proceeded to Kelechi Iherizie’s shop surrendered him and caught him too.”

When contacted, the police public relations officer (PPRO),  Henry Okoye, promised to get back to  LEADERSHIP with further details, but he never did at the time of filing this report.