From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have killed a truck driver and hijacked an 18 seater bus with passengers on board at Aba/Owerri road.
A Witness from the area told our correspondent that the incident which occurred on Tuesday caused heavy gridlock as most commuters and passengers were also stranded afterwards.
“They were many, they killed a truck driver and took over 18 passengers into the bush with them, they came out from the bush and started shooting sporadically causing many vehicles traveling on the road to stop.”
In a similar development, although remote cause to the incident has not been established, some trucks were attacked and razed by hoodlums at Okigwe Highway , yesterday.
The number of the vehicles could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report,but the police had confirmed the incident and affirmed that investigation has been launched to unravel the cause of the arson.
Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Henry Okoye, who also confirmed the hijacked incident at Aba/Owerri road, said a good number of policemen have been deployed to the trouble area.
“It’s an old story an incident that happened two days ago and we have launched a manhunt to apprehend those behind the act”.
However, the PPRO difered in his response about the Okigwe incident as he attributed the crime to members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He said: “The Imo State Police Command, working in synergy with the Millitary, Department of State Services (DSS), and other sister security agencies, has launched a coordinated manhunt for criminal elements suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN.
“These armed miscreants attacked unsuspecting commuters along the Okigwe-Owerri Road in the early hours of Thursday, May 8, 2025.
“The attackers, operating in three separate groups, blocked the highway between Umunna in Onuimo LGA and parts of Okigwe LGA at about 5 am . They shot sporadically, causing panic and chaos, and set over 20 vehicles, including trucks and motorcycles ablaze. Tragically, reports of human casualties have also been confirmed as a result of the ambush.
“Responding swiftly to the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, led a joint tactical team of the Police, Army, DSS, and other security agencies to the scene. The team provided immediate support to victims and initiated a comprehensive operation to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects responsible for the heinous attack.
“A full-scale search and cordon operation is currently underway, with security operatives combing nearby forests and surrounding areas where the suspects are believed to be hiding. The Commissioner has assured the public that the operation will continue until all perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.
“While condemning the attack in the strongest terms and describing it as a cowardly act of terror, CP Aboki Danjuma called on Imolites to remain calm, law-abiding, and security conscious. He further urged residents to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information to aid ongoing operations.