IPOB/ESN fighters in Imo abduct, slaughter Polytechnic registrar
Tensions have gripped the Ezeala/Ezike autonomous community in Umuezeala, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State as they grapple with the horrific killing of Innocent Obi, a deputy registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Uwana, Ebonyi State.
Obi was said to have been killed by gunmen, operating under the guise of Biafra agitators.
Obi, fondly known as “Onye Army” by locals, had retired from the military and had applied for the position of registrar at the institution he served before his tragic demise.
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Obi had returned to his Umuoboama village to attend the funeral of a relative who had lost their life while serving as a soldier in the Northeast.
His presence at the village didn’t go unnoticed, and a group of assailants, donned in military and police attire, attacked his family home around 10 pm. The attackers used machetes and axes, which led to the distressing discovery of his lifeless body.
Villagers, drawn by Obi’s cries for help, attempted a rescue mission, but the assailants, numbering over six and riding on motorcycles, resorted to gunfire, forcing the would-be rescuers to retreat.
This tragic event sent shockwaves through the community.
A search party was assembled to locate Obi, which ultimately led to the grim discovery of his decomposing body between Ehime Mbano and Ahiazu Mbaise. His body had been brutally disfigured, causing immense sorrow among the villagers who remembered him as a man who helped countless youths gain admission to school.
He lived a humble life, and his personal house, which was still under construction at the time of his death, reflected this simplicity.
The incident has left the community and its neighbors in fear due to the recurrence of similar killings and other criminal activities in the area, including the murder of several security operatives.
The police are yet to comment on the situation when contacted.