A chieftain of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Umuchieze Community of Imo State, Chief Jude Mbuagbaw, has condemned the gruesome killing of a police officer in the state and the burning down of a Police Station by unknown gunmen.
In two separate operations in two different locations within two days, the gunmen killed a police officer as well razed a police station and Obowo Council Headquarters.
It was gathered that the gunmen trailed the police officer to his house at Umulogho NEPA junction in Obowo Council area where they committed their dastardly act.
It was learnt that the gunmen invaded the area around 8pm on Tuesday and shot sporadically, forced their way into the house of the late officer after identifying him from the student nurses residing in the same compound.
It was gathered that the hoodlums spent 45 minutes unchallenged despite the presence of three police formations and a military checkpoint in the area.
Some witnesses told our correspondent that the gunmen took close to an hour to separate students from their target before eventually identifying the officer whom they slaughtered with a knife.
It was learnt that after killing the police officer, they returned early next morning (Wednesday) and set the police station ablaze.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, described the killing as “horrifying.”
The APC chieftain urged the Imo State Government and State Police Command to ensure the perpetrators of the hideous act were brought to justice.
According to Mbuagbaw, “every imolite must be vigilante and report any suspicious activity to the police”.
“Report any suspicious activity even if the suspect is your family member”, the APC chieftain added.
Chief Mbuagbaw added that “our first loyalty must be to our country and not to family members or any one person.”
He recalled that he had reported his nephew, Chibuikem Collins Okorie, to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), over his alleged sponsorship of the proscribed group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its offshoot, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
He urged Imolites and Nigerians in general to emulate him by “reporting whosoever is committing crime, not minding whose ox is gored”.
Continuing, the APC chieftain saluted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the Nigeria territory from external interferences.
In the same vein, Chief Mbuagbaw, also saluted his “brother and friend the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Egbetokunbo, for protecting lives and property and maintaining professionalism within the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force.
Chief Mbuagbaw further saluted the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma, for the massive development he had brought to the state.
