Gunmen enforcing the five-day sit-at-home order in Imo on Friday, went on rampage, reportedly killing a policeman and a brother of Nollywood star, Osita Iheme.
The sad incidents occurred at the Owerri metropolis and Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Orlu-Owerri road.
While Iheme died on the spot, the commissioner sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital.
It was reported that Prince Iheme, elder brother to Osita Iheme, was riding with the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martins Eke when the gunmen ran into them and opened fire at Ubomiri, Mbaitoli council area of the state.
The commissioner received a deep machete cut from the gunmen.
An eye witness said the gunmen ran into a police checkpoint and killed one officer, while shooting sporadically and ordering motorists and passers-by to go home and observe sit-at-home,
“They ran into police checkpoint at Orji and opened fire on them, and killed one police man. Some of them were shouting – ‘Go home, today is sit-at-home’; people ran helter-skelter and they drove towards Okigwe road”, the source stated.
The Simon Ekpa led IPOB had declared five days sit-at-home which was countered by Director of Media and Publicity of IPOB, Emma Powerful.