Panic in Imo as 5 policemen and a couple were killed by gunmen (photos)

At the Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, unidentified gunmen have sent 5 policemen and a couple to their early graves.

The whole community was thrown into a state of panic as commercial activities had abruptly come to end due to the ugly incident which happened on Friday morning, April 21, 2023.

The couple, identified as Mr. and Mrs. Chinaka Nwagu, had moved from Lagos a year earlier and were from the Amankwo Okpala neighborhood.

The dead officers drove from the nearby Abo Mbaise police division to eat at the junction, according to a source who identified himself as Uche and was a relative of the couple.

It was gathered that the cops were eating when the unidentified gunmen arrived at the scene and fired bullets at them.

According to the source, three policemen were shot dead at the scene, then the two others ran to a closeby shop but their assailants ran to the shop and murdered them and also murdered a couple who owned the shop they ran into.

After murdering the policemen, the gunmen drove away their five rifles, the eyewitness disclosed.

According to a source, he narrated;

“It is a black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8 am shot five policemen dead at Okpala junction. The policemen drove in a white coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise Police Division to eat at the junction.” 

“As they were eating, gunmen drove to the place and opened fire on them. Two out of the five policemen ran to a nearby shop where a couple sold meat pie and sachet water. After killing the three policemen, they came two the shop where the two other officers were hiding and killed them. They also killed a husband and wife that owned the shop.

“They took away their rifles and drove off. This is so unfortunate. Our community is bleeding. Everybody is confused. The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. The market is shut. People here ran away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.”

Another source identified as Dominic Okpor said that he saw the lifeless bodies of the cops on the road when he drove through the Owerri – Aba Road.

In his words, he said;

“The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. God have mercy.” 

See the images below: