No fewer than 18 people were killed in coordinated attacks across several communities in the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State on Sunday.
The killings occurred in Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihitte Nasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe in the last two days.
In many videos seen by CrimeFacts news on social media, victims were left with deep machete wounds, sparking fear and outrage among locals.
It was learned that the tragedy followed the annual masquerade festival celebrated in Umuhu, Amaoku, Amaebe, and neighboring communities.
After the festivities, some locals, including holiday returnees, gathered at a drinking joint.
Passers-by later discovered all nine people in the joint, including customers and attendants, lying in pools of blood with machete wounds.
A source who pleaded anonymity said Everybody in the joint, all nine people, were discovered dead, either customers or attendants; they had been butchered with deep machete cuts all over.
He added that three corpses were discovered in Umukabia, consisting of family members, five corpses in Eziawa village, and another five corpses in Ihitte Nasa, all with machete cuts on the same day.
He revealed that the incidents happened and nobody noticed. According to him, three people were killed in Umukabia, five in Ezinwa, and another five in Ihitte Nasa villages, and nobody saw the killers come in nor leave.
The local source suspected that these killings were done with inside collaboration with Orsu boys who are members of IPOB and ESN members that they don’t know
Orsu has endured years of IPOB and ESN dominance, which had driven residents away until recent military operations reclaimed parts of the area, allowing gradual resettlement.
Imo State Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye confirmed the killings and said investigations are underway.
Okoye said the police are aware of the killings, and already CP Aboki Danjuma has set up a high-powered security team involving the different security agencies to unravel the case. The CP appeals to people to remain calm.
More to follow….
