Confusion has enveloped Awomamma Community in Oru-West Local Government Area of Imo State following alleged invasion by operatives of the Ebubeagu Security Network, ESN, which has left a 34 year old man dead.
Sources said the gunmen arrived the community in a Sienna vehicle and started shooting sporadically into the air which caused panic as people scampered to safety, after which they drove off.
However, a stray bullet was said to have hit the 34 years old man whose identity was yet to be confirmed as at press time.
Distraught relatives had put the lifeless body in a wheelbarrow which they carried round the community singing dirge songs amidst laments over the loss.
In the viral video circulating on social media platforms, the community people blamed the death on operatives of Ebubeagu Security Network who they said invaded the Awomamma on Monday.
An elder man was heard saying: “God, what have we done to deserve this. This boy lying dead here is neither a thief nor an armed robbers. In fact, our children are not armed robbers. He was only going to buy bread the next store when he was attacked by Ebubeagu operatives who shot him dead. What wrong has this young boy committed?
“This is not the first nor the second time our community is being attacked by Ebubeagu. What have they seen in our community that they wouldn’t want us to rest? We are calling on government to come to our rescue because our youths are being killed every day.”
A village source who pleaded anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the hoodlums are members of the Ebubeagu Security Network and, according to him, they are everywhere in their community.
He lamented, “We thought the Ebubeagu is for security but their activities in our community is no longer acceptable. Government should act fast and disband the security group before they finish our youths.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the police spokesperson for Imo state, Henry Okoye proved abortive as he did not take his calls.