BREAKING: Unknown Gunmen Raze Country Home of Imo State Commissioner, Local Govt Chairman
- Imo government officials are now targets of arsonists as violence escalates across the southeast state
- The Imo state commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba is the latest official to lose his house
- The Orlu West local government area chairman was also not spared as his home was completely razed
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Owerri - Unknown gunmen on Sunday, June 6 burnt the country home of the Imo state commissioner for information and strategy, Declan Emelumba.
The attack took place in the early hours of the day at the commissioner's community in Ubulu-Ihejiofor in Orlu West local government area of the state.
Punch newspaper reports that the gunmen succeeded in setting on fire the two houses in Emelumba’s compound.
Source: Twitter
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Quoting an eye-witness in the report, the newspaper said the incident caused panic in the once peaceful community.
The source said:
“It was a terrific night. Nobody slept last night. People are just coming out from the bushes. The shooting was so much and people had to take cover in the bushes.”
The source, however, confirmed that soldiers were already being moved into the community to restore normalcy.
When contacted, the commissioner confirmed the incident, saying:
“Yes, it is true. My house in the village has been burnt down. It was completely razed. We don’t stay in the village. My gateman managed to escape.”
Nigerian Tribune newspaper also reports that it was not only the commissioner's house that was burnt down.
According to the report, the gunmen also razed the home of the Orlu West local government area chairman.
Recall that gunmen on Thursday, June 3 invaded the Orji area in Owerri, the Imo state capital and its environs, and killed three persons in different locations.
The operation started at about 5:30 pm lasted for more than an hour, as the armed men moved around the area shooting sporadically.
The gunmen were said to have started their operation from the Orji axis, headed to the Spibat area, and visited other areas, killing three persons.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev Anthony J.V Obinna has charged Governor Hope Uzodimma to protect Imo people and defend their land.
The Archbishop made the call in a statement released on Thursday, June 3, and seen by Legit.ng.
The respected cleric urged the governor to convoke a ceasefire meeting of all stakeholders in the state, adding that a concerted approach to the crisis is needed urgently.
Source: Legit.ng
