Gunmen on Friday April 21 killed five police officers at the Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.
The gunmen also killed a husband and his wife whose identities were given as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu — citizens of Amankwo Okpala community.
There’s tension in the community as commercial activities have been put on hold as a result of the incident.
A source close to the couple, Uche revealed to newsmen that the deceased police officers drove to the nearby Abo Mbaise police division to eat at the junction.
The gunmen invaded the scene and gunned down the police officers, said Uche.
He narrated that the gunmen killed three policemen and ran after two other police officers who ran for their safety.
The two other police officers ran into a nearby shop, where they attacked by the gunmen and shot dead.
The gunmen reportedly killed the a couple who are owners of the shop where the police officers ran into.
A source who witnessed the scenario said the gunmen took away five rifles belonging to the police officers after the unfortunate killings.
The source said, “It is a Black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8 am shot five policemen dead at Okpala junction. The policemen drove in a white-coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise Police Division to eat at the junction.
“As they were eating, gunmen drove to the place and opened fire on them. Two out of the five policemen ran to a nearby shop where a couple sold meat pie and sachet water. After killing the three policemen, they came two the shop where the two other officers were hiding and killed them. They also killed a husband and wife that owned the shop.
“They took away their rifles and drove off. This is so unfortunate. Our community is bleeding. Everybody is confused. The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. The market is shut. People here ran away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.”
Another source revealed that he encountered the dead bodies of the police officers on the road while driving through Owerri–Aba Road.
Okpor said, “The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. God have mercy.”