On Friday afternoon, December 9, 2022, gunmen who were enforcing the five-day sit-at-home order attacked parts of Owerri, Mbaitoli, and the surrounding areas in Imo State.
The gunmen attacked in different places and killed a police officer named Prince Iheme. Prince Iheme was the older brother of the Nollywood actor Osita Iheme, also known as Pawpaw.
Martin Eke, the state's Commissioner for Solid Minerals, was also hit with a machete by the gunmen.
People had to run for cover because the gunmen, who were riding in Trundra operational vehicles, shot randomly.
Businesses picked up quickly, but the roads were empty because people abandoned their cars and ran in all directions.
At Orji, which is close to Owerri, the capital of the state, the black-clad gunmen in three cars attacked residents and police officers.
Witnesses told Punch that the gunmen met with police officers at the 7up junction in Orji and killed one of them.
"They just killed a policemen now. They opened fire on them and were shouting there is sit at home. We have asked you to go home. Stay in doors," the witness said.
Another eyewitness said: ” I just escaped death by a whiskers now. They stopped before us and and asked us to go home. They didn’t shot at us maybe because I was in the midst of some elderly women.
It was also gathered that the fleeing gunmen also shot repeatedly at Nkwo-Orji market before taking off towards the Okigwe Road.
At Ubomri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area, the gunmen attacked the convey of the All Progressives Congress candidate for Mbaitoli/ Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi.
While Prince Iheme was killed on the spot, Eke was matcheted.
"Prince Iheme was riding in the same vehicle with the commissioner for solid minerals, Martin Eke. Prince Iheme who is Pawpaw’s elder brother was killed on the spot. The commissioner who was sworn in two weeks ago was cut badly. He has just been rushed to a hospital. They were driving in a Ford vehicle. I pray he makes it," the witness said.
A woman, Onyii Manifestation and her child also survived the attack at at Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.
"Unknown gunmen!!! Thank you Jesus. They didn't come for money but for life...They shot sporadically this afternoon but God protected his own. No life was lost!!! Help me thank God for saving us from the attack of unknown gunmen....at Obodoukwu ideato north IMO state. Not my head. Not my blood. Attack will come but you shall be saved....Says the Lord," she wrote.