Unknown Gunmen Didn’t Bomb Izombe Market In Imo, Report Is Fake News – Police

Nigeria Police Force has described as fake news, media reports that indicated that Unknown Gunmen bombed Izombe Central Market in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday.

The Nigeria Police Force in a press statement signed by the Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Michael Abattam, made available few hours ago said the Force may consider legal action against the publisher of the Daily Sun Newspaper if it failed to publish retraction or correction of the earlier report the Police Command considered fake and misleading.

Some media reports had earlier indicated that Unknown Gunmen bombed the Izombe market in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

The media reports indicated that the Unknown Gunmen on Monday carried out the dastardly act while they were said to be enforcing every Monday’s sit-at-home order which the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had since called off.

“Sources said the incident caused uneasy calm as the traders and customers in the market scampered for safety”, according to Daily Sun.

“One of sources said the gunmen had stormed the market, warning the traders of the implications of coming out on Monday for their business transactions.

“Angered by their defiance, the hoodlums set two vehicles ablaze in the market which caused serious pandemonium before bombing the market.

“The source disclosed that everybody in the market sensing danger scampered for safety, while many attempting to escape danger got wounded in the process.

“Meanwhile, in the midst of the commotion, traders in the market seeking safety got wounded while struggling for survival.

“They came and threw a local bomb inside the market, everybody started running for safety, they poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere was in flame”, One of the news media reports.

But, the Imo State Police Command said the Unknown Gunmen he described as miscreants on motorcycles, went to a stationed bus at Izombe Central Market area where the conductor was canvassing for passengers going to Owerri, the Imo State Capital, and set the vehicle ablaze.

According to the police, the miscreants left immediately and no record that the market was bombed.

Excerpts of the police press release reads as embedded below:

2022 captioned "SIT-AT-HOME: GUNMEN BOMB IMO MARKET" and online news captioned "BOMB EXPLOSION ROCKS IMO MARKET, SCORES INJURED, VEHICLES BURNT” written by one Stanley Uzoaru a reporter of Daily Sun Newspaper, alleging that "gunmen while enforcing sit-at-home order of the

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022

threw bomb inside the market and everybody started running for safety, they poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere went up in flame". It is preposterous and most unfortunate that, a notable national newsprint will publish a sensitive story without ascertaining the true facts.

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022

state since the arrival of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+), few months ago.

May I at this juncture, state the true facts surrounding the incident that actually occurred on 20/6/2022 in Izombe Central Market. It is on record that there was no bomb

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022

on Mondays for their businesses. Moreso, the community has always engaged in their market business without fear of molestation from anybody.

However, preliminary investigation conducted by the Police Operatives on arrival at the market while responding to the distress on

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022

enforcing sit-at-home order in the Community and left almost immediately after the act. However, no life was lost and most of the people have left because it was the close of market.

The Command considers this publication not only unprofessional but also believes it's at

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022

Rejoinder of which, if this is not done, the Command will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action against the publisher.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+), commends the good people of Imo State for their unalloyed support given to the

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022

fake news, to desist from it, else they will be made to face the full wrath of the law if caught.

CSP MICHAEL ABATTAM
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
IMO STATE COMMAND.

— Imo State Police Command (@ImoPoliceNG) June 21, 2022