Gunmen Attack Checkpoint, Reporteldly Kill Four Police Officers, PoS Operator

No fewer than four police officers were killed on Monday evening at a stop and search checkpoint along Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo state.

An eyewitness, who claimed to be a resident of Irete in Owerri-west Local Government Area of the state, told PUNCH that fear couldn’t allow him and others to ascertain how many civilians were also shot.

He said, “The gunmen stormed one of the popular hotels where the police checkpoint was mounted at Irete around 6:30 pm and shot at the four policemen on the stop and search duty, including a Point of Sale operator.

“They also shot dead a female Point of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares and they were all rushed to a nearby hospital. It was horrific. All the people around ran away for fear of being hit by stray bullets.

“This road has become a soft spot for them. Last time, they also shot dead several policemen on duty and civilians.

“Government should beef up security in this area to forestall further occurrences.”

Another indigene, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH that the attackers were enforcers of Monday sit-at-home.

He added, “I didn’t know the Monday sit-at-home is still existing in Imo state. I thought it had been stopped but with what happened today, people will no longer come out on Monday for fear of being killed by gunmen.”

Efforts to get the reaction of the Imo State Police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, proved abortive as he was yet to respond to the text message sent to him as of the time of filling this report.