The Imo Police Command on Sunday confirmed a robbery attack on motorists in Orji area of Owerri same day, which left four persons with gunshot wounds.
The command’s Spokesperson, SP Orlando Ikeokwu, said the victims had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for treatment.
The incident took place near the Orji Divisional Police Headquarters on Owerri-Okigwe Road around 10.30pm.
It was learnt that the hoodlums, who were trailing an unmarked security vehicle, double-crossed it at Orji and opened fire on the driver.
A witness said the gunmen robbed other motorists and commuters in commercial vehicles at the same spot.
He further said the robbers shot sporadically after the operation to scare away people, before making their escape.
“It was during the sporadic shooting that three more persons around area were hit by bullet,” the witness said on the condition of anonymity.
The incident caused tension and panic in the area, forcing residents and passersby to run for their lives.
The robbery, which came barely one day after the attack on Gov. Hope Uzodinma’s country home in Omuma, has further heightened fears of insecurity in the state.
In another development, the police spokesman debunked the report of alleged attack on the Imo House of Assembly.
In a statement, he described the online video, showing the assembly complex under fire, as false.
According to him, the building, which was on fire in a social media, was neither the state house of assembly nor any building in Imo.
Reports on Sunday evening suggested that the Assembly had been set on fire by unknown arsonists.
A YouTube video purportedly showing the Assembly burning has been branded fake as the house in the video is not the same as the Imo Assembly.
