Tension as gunmen kill four policemen at Imo checkpoint

On Monday evening, gunmen killed four police officers at a stop-and-search checkpoint along the Owerri-Onitsha road in Imo State.

The attack took place in Irete, Owerri-west Local Government Area.

According to an eyewitness, the gunmen stormed a popular hotel where the police checkpoint was situated around 6:30 pm and opened fire on the officers on duty.

In addition to the four policemen, a female Point of Sale (POS) operator and several pedestrians were also shot. The wounded were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“The gunmen stormed one of the popular hotels where the police checkpoint was mounted at Irete around 6:30 pm and shot at the four policemen on stop-and-search duty, including a Point of Sale operator. They also shot dead a female Point of Sale operator and some pedestrians who were taken unawares,” the eyewitness said. “This road has become a soft spot for them. Last time, they also shot dead several policemen on duty and civilians. Government should beef up security in this area to forestall further occurrences.”

Another local resident, who requested anonymity, suggested that the attackers were enforcing the Monday sit-at-home order, which many believed had been discontinued in Imo State. “I didn’t know the Monday sit-at-home is still existing in Imo state. I thought it had been stopped but with what happened today, people will no longer come out on Monday for fear of being killed by gunmen,” he said.

Efforts to obtain a response from Imo State Police Spokesman, Henry Okoye, were unsuccessful as he had not replied to text messages by the time of this report.

The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the area and the need for increased protection measures to prevent further violence.