Saturday night was tragic and sorrowful for Indigenes of Umucheke community in Okwe, Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State, as unidentified gunmen shot and killed seven prominent leaders, leaving the community in shock and grief.
Residens of the area said the gunmen attacked the victims at a meeting held at the home of the president general of the community who was also murdered.
Spokesperson of the Imo state police command, Henry Okoye has on confirmed the murder.
He said Commissioner of Police in the state Danjuma Aboki described the incident as a very unfortunate one and that the command is saddened by the tragic incident.
He said investigation has begun to unravel the miscreants responsible for the dastardly act and make them face the full wrath of the law.
Recall that last week, gunmen also ambushed and killed four policemen in the Irete community along Onitsha Road in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
According to sources, the gunmen attacked the policemen who were on stop-and-search duty in the area.
The latest attack is part of a disturbing trend of violence in Imo State and the South-East region, where non-state actors have been carrying out frequent and deadly attacks on security personnel and innocent civilians, resulting in numerous casualties and widespread insecurity in recent years.
