The police in Imo State capital, Owerri, this morning repelled an attack on its facility by gunmen, killing one of the attackers and injuring several others.
Spokesperson for the command, Bala Elkana, while giving an update on the situation, said that the hoodlums “made effort to access the Police Headquarters through Works Layout around Avan Nursery and Primary School but were vehemently repelled. They came in a white Hummer bus”
The Hummer bus as well as two Ak47 rifles were recovered from the gunmen.
Meanwhile, yet to be identified gunmen had early Sunday morning taken over the streets of Owerri, shooting sporadically for over one hour.
Residents of World Bank area, Onitsha Road, Okigwe road, and Orji said the shooting started as early as 6am even as they advanced towards Orji.
Eyewitnesses who pleaded anonymity said the shooting spree went on unabated and sent panic waves across the city.
Early morning church goers who normally attended 6am Mass were forced to stay back indoors as the shooting intensified.
A Pastor who pleaded anonymity on Okigwe road, said that a squad of armed men in military camouflage ordered him to lock up the church gate saying they didn’t want to hear any sounds from there.
According to him when he tried to explain to them, they threatened to shoot him, adding that they were about 20 persons in different vehicles, and he quickly complied.
Owerri has come under heavy shootings in the past three months even as roads are cordoned off to restrict traffic.
Already there have been several deaths even as residents have taken to self-imposed curfew and mostly stay indoors from 6pm.
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