BREAKING: Gunmen Behead Community Leader In Imo Community, Burn Shops, Vehicles
Unknown armed individuals have terrorized residents of Okporo and its surrounding communities in Imo State’s Orlu Local Government Area, killing five people and torching businesses.
A community leader, whose name has not been revealed, was beheaded.
Armed men are said to have paraded his head on a table in a market in the Okporo community after beheading him.
The onslaught began on Sunday night and lasted until Monday morning, according to reports.
However, over twenty shops were completely destroyed and more than 10 vehicles were burnt.
The reason for the attack is not yet clear, but residents have blamed it on criminal gangs as well as native doctors that operate freely at night.
A hotel was also burnt by some unknown gunmen in security outfits in Orlu.
The hotel belonged to a businessman, Chinonso Uba.
According to report, Uba’s house was also burnt during the attack.
An eyewitness said the gunmen stormed the hotel with “two hilux vehicles, Mercedes 360, armoured car. They also burnt a brand new car belonging to Uba.”
A community source who spoke to Vanguard from Orlu said: “My brother, this is what we have been seeing since Sunday, Orlu is getting hot now. We are no longer sleeping. These criminals move freely in the night and they kill and destroy everything.
“Even this Monday morning, we heard of strange movements by these men in Okporo community and people started running. What is happening in Orlu is creating fears everywhere. These criminals started by beheading our people and now burning people’s homes. What do they want?
“When will all these attacks end? We are suffering in Orlu local government area and government should please send security operatives to us to end these attacks.
“Orlu deserves to be peaceful and people deserve to do their business peacefully. In a conducive environment, there will be development and people living in Orlu will be happy.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abatam, said the police had earlier cordoned the forest of Njaba to check the activities of the hoodlums.
