Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Military men have literally taken over most parts of Owerri, the Imo state capital, as Insecurity heightened in the state.
According to the Punch, This came after unknown gunmen razed the country home of the state governor, Hope Uzodinma, in Omuma on Saturday, killing no fewer than three security operatives.
The gunmen also struck on Monday by killing no fewer than six policemen at Okigwe south police Area Command headquarters situated in Orieagu in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state.
On Sunday night, hoodlums waylaid and shot the state Commissioner for Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition, Iyke Ume, at Orji, on Owerri- Okigwe Road even as they shot other motorists.
Our correspondent reports that the attacks came after security operatives in a joint operation killed the commander of Eastern Security Network in the South East, simply identified as Ikonso, on Saturday in his house in Awomamma in the Oru East LGA of the state.
On Tuesday, a military helicopter tookover the sky in Owerri in an apparent search for the attackers.
This was as security men took over the state capital, condoning off major Roads and streets which compelled motorists to play single lanes.
The Roads leading to the state government house, command police headquarters, the Owerri Correctional Center, were barricaded as security operatives welding riffle mounted strategic locations.
Also, the bank Road- warehousing Road was taken over by solders as motorists were forced to make use of single lane.
People were forced to raise their hands above their heads as they trekked pass the military checkpoints.
Also, Road was also condoned of at Ama- Hausa, a settlement for all the Hausa people living in the state.
Solders were sighted mounting different locations as commercial activities went on, skeletially, in the area.
The military helicopter was hovering around continuously around Government house, Mbari, Ikenegbu, Okigwe, Douglas, Wetheral Roads and other parts in the state capital.
Also, the helicopter also hovered around residential areas as residents got frightened.
The development also caused people to close shops very early as others stayed back at their homes.
Our correspondent observed that many parents had withdrawn their children and wards from schools, following the rising Insecurity in the state.
Popular pulps were almost empty, as the development affected the economy of the state.
Source: The Punch
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