By Charles Igbo
Forty hours after Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, assured the people of Imo State that the violence inflicted on the State in recent weeks by gunmen will never repeat, the bad boys called his bluff.
The Governor had, on Sunday, said nothing of that nature would happen again in the State, and declared Imo the graveyard of criminals, adding: “We will crush them.”
But in a brazen attack, Tuesday afternoon, an unknown number of gunmen, kitted in black outfit, and some tying red scarf on their heads, swooped on the Orji Police Division. Orji is within the Owerri Capital Territory, and about 15 minutes drive to Government House.
Arriving in, at least, two vehicles, a Sienna and a Highlander, they set fire on the offices, shooting wildly and heavily and sent Policemen, who were taken unawares, running for their lives.
But there was a quick security reinforcement, leading to heavy exchange of gunfire. It is not known, yet, if there were any casualties, but the gunmen were seen, parading the road.
An eyewitness told this magazine that the gunmen were so brazen they over-powered Policemen at the Division, and pushed back soldiers. “Orji is on fire. Residents are running helter-skelter”, he told us.
A competent source told our reporter that the gunmen left for Orlu road after successfully accomplishing their mission in Orji. He said security personnel are in hot pursuit, but expressed fears it would be in vain. “They escaped,” he said.
This is the second time the Orji Police Division will come under a heavy attack by gunmen.
Last Sunday, Governor Uzodinma had said most of those attacking the State were mercinaries from outside it, and non-Igbo.
He also revealed that 400 of them have been arrested, and undergoing trial in the Court.
…More details, later.
