Woman burnt to death as suspected ESN/IPOB gunmen invade Imo community, raze down several houses

Woman burnt to death as suspected ESN/IPOB gunmen invade Imo community, raze down several houses

A yet-to-be-identified woman was on Tuesday burnt to death when gunmen suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN)/Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) invaded the Amagu Ihube community in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State and razed down several houses during the wee hours.

The arsonists in the early hours of Tuesday burnt the country homes of the serving Imo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Chief Emeka Okoronkwo; a former Commissioner of Information, Prof Nnamdi Obiaraeri; and a retired Director of the Department of Security Service, Emeka Ngwu.

Prof Obiaraeri was a former Dean of law faculty at the Imo State University and a commissioner under former governors Ikedi Ohakim and Rochas Okorocha cabinets.

The elderly woman who was in Ngwu’s house when it was torched, was burnt before help came.

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The Imo Police spokesperson, Henry Okoye confirmed the incident and said investigations had begun.

Okoye said: “Yes, it is true. The DPO of the Okigwe division has already visited the scene and evacuated the corpse while investigations have begun. The case file will be transferred to the State command to unravel the masterminds of the attack. However, peace has been restored in the area”.

Amagu Ihube community came under attacks in 2023 after gunmen invaded the community and razed down the country homes of the Labour Party chieftain, Dr Nnaemeka Obiaraeri and the Director General of the Labour Party house of representatives candidate, Okey Unam, even as several vehicles were burnt.

Other houses and properties of people in the community have been burnt in the recent past by gunmen operating in the area.