Two security personnel were killed on Tuesday night when gunmen launched an attack on the Isiala-Mbano Local Government Area (LGA) headquarters in Imo state. The assailants, who stormed the area around 8:30 p.m., opened fire on sight, leaving destruction in their wake.
According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen shot sporadically, killing the security officers on duty and setting parts of the council building and vehicles ablaze. The attackers fled, leaving behind a scene of devastation and fear among the local residents.
A source speculated that the attack may be linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary elections, which were being conducted across the state’s 27 LGAs and 306 wards. The gunmen may have assumed the primary exercise was taking place at the LGA headquarters, prompting the violent assault.
“Two security personnel were shot dead, and the hoodlums set fire to a large section of the council building and several vehicles. Many people in the area fled to neighboring villages out of fear for their lives,” the source said.
Local residents expressed concern for their safety, urging the government and police to intervene quickly. “There is palpable fear in Umuelemai, the LGA headquarters. People have run away, seeking refuge in nearby villages,” a witness reported.
As of the time of filing this report, the state’s police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, had not commented on the attack, and attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful.
