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Gunmen have killed couple and five policemen at Okpala junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State on Friday.
The couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu, hailed from Amankwo Okpala community, Ngor Okpala Local Government Areas of the State.
The incident had thrown the junction and the entire community into a state of panic as commercial activities had abruptly came to end.
A source who identified himself as Uche and a relative to the couple told our correspondent that the slain cops drove from neighbouring from Abo Mbaise police Division to eat at the junction.
He said that while the policemen were eating some gunmen drove to the scene and opened fire on them.
He said that while three police were shot dead at the scene, two others ran to a nearby shot but their attackers raced to the shop killed them and equally killed a couple who owned the shop they ran into.
The eyewitness disclosed that after killing the policemen, the gunmen carted away their five riffles.
The distraught source said ” it is a black Friday in our community. Gunmen around 8am shot five policemen dead at Okpala junction. The policemen drove in a white coloured Hilux from Aboh Mbaise division to eat at the junction.
“As they were eating gunmen drove to the place and opened fire on them. Two out of the five policemen ran to a nearby shop where a couple sell meat pie and sachet water. After killing the three policemen, they came two the shop where the two other officers were hiding, killed them. They also killed a husband and wife that owned the shop.
“They took away their rifles and drove off. This is so unfortunate. Our community is bleeding. Everybody is confused. The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. They market is shut. People have ran away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.”
Another source, Dominic Okpor told our correspondent that he saw the lifeless bodies of the cops on the road when he drove through the Owerri – Aba Road.
Okpor said” this is horrible. The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. God have mercy.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye confirmed the incident.
Okoye said that police operatives have taken over the entire.community in order to arrest perpetuators of this dastardly act.
The PPRO said normalcy will be restored in that area no time.
Recall that last month, gunmen also killed five officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in the same Ngor Okpala LGA.
