Tricyclist, Pedestrian Shot Dead Over Sit-at-Home In Imo

Enforcers of the illegal seven-day sit-at-home order have again shot a Keke rider and a pedestrian dead at Akwakuma junction in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.

The gunmen, according to reports, attacked the area on Saturday while enforcing the sit-at-home order.

An eyewitness said that the gunmen stormed the area in a Sienna bus and started shooting sporadically in the air, causing people to scamper for safety.

The tricycle rider, whose name was yet to be known, was said to be scouting for passengers at the junction when the gunmen took him unawares and shot him on the chest.

This is coming few hours after part of Orie Amaraku popular market was set on fire alongside some parked vehicles, allegedly done by same enforcers of the sit-at-home order.

A tailor at Akwakuma junction, who pleaded anonymity told LEADERSHIP that another pedestrian was also hit by stray bullet during the attack.

According to her, “it was terrible, the junction is currently deserted because of the gunmen. They shot one Keke rider and a pedestrian.

“I was at my shop when the gunshots started raining in the air. We all ran away in fear. Although, I did not see the gunmen but I heard their gunshots closely. Two people were shot dead.”

A resident of Akwakuma community had this to say: “I don’t know why the criminals struck unchallenged whereas the military checkpoint is nearby. If it had been that security agents mounting illegal checkpoints on every inch of our roads searching both the occupants and vehicles instead of extorting money, this ugly incident would have been nipped in the bud.”

Another resident lamented, “If these things could happen in Owerri capital city, how about the rural communities? Where are the security agencies and state government that advised people to go about their normal businesses and ignore sit-at-home? Who should we obey going forward? Is it the government and security agencies who cannot protect the people after advising them to go out or the group that announced sit-at-home? We are in trouble.”

As at the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer,  Henry Okoye, was yet to react to the incident.