Barely 24 hours after Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State asked residents to ignore rumour of possible gunmen attacks, unknown gunmen invaded the state capital yesterday, move freely on the streets shooting sporadically.
Video recordings from eyewitnesses show two of the unknown gunmen moving freely on the streets of Imo state, shooting sporadically.
Some persons were seen hailing and praising the unknown gunmen.
Reports from Wetheral, Ikenegbu areas indicated residents and motorists deserted streets for over three hours yesterday.
B.B.C reports indicated that soldiers quickly took over Imo state government House.
The streets leading to the Douglas House were seen deserted by both human and vehicular movement.
In ensuing gun battle, a woman was killed by stray bullet.
Another man in a viral video was seen accusing soldiers of killing his brother yesterday.
Residents claimed the death of the woman was caused by stray bullet from the security operatives.
Some residents claimed the tension became heightened by rain of bullets by security operatives at Whetheral, Ikenegbu houses of Imo state.
Governor Hope Uzodimma in a statement made available on Monday said thus:
I have admonished Imo people to ignore the rumours making the rounds that hoodlums are planning attack on some institutions and government facilities in the State. I assured that they are unfounded.
These were my comments to assuage the fears of our people afterword the Church Service at the Government House Chapel, Imo State Government House, Owerri.
I noted that rumours have been making the rounds of late that some unscrupulous elements are planning attacks on some public and private establishments in the State.
Such rumours were designed to put fears in the mind of Imo people and assured that no such thing would happen.
Imo people and residents should go about their businesses without fear of molestation or harassment. What happened in the past weeks will never repeat itself again.
The Government under our watch will not allow those who visited mayhem on the people to operate again in Imo State.
We will visit the right measures on anybody that attempts to cause mayhem or attack Imo people again. Government cannot surrender to blackmailers, hoodlums and perpetrators of violence who have sworn to make the State ungovernable.
Imo citizens are enjoined to go about their normal businesses so far as they’re not linked to any form of criminality.
