Gunmen attacked and killed eight community leaders in Imo State, located in Nigeria’s southeast region, on Saturday evening.
Naija News gathered that the attack took place in Umucheke Okwe, a community in the Onuimo Local Government Area.
Among the victims were the President-General of the community, Hyginus Ohazuruike, and seven other village chiefs.
Residents reported that the leaders were holding a meeting at Ohazuruike’s shop when the attack occurred.
According to an eyewitness who requested anonymity for safety reasons, the assailants entered the shop, located within the community market, and began shooting indiscriminately at the leaders gathered there.
After killing the community leaders, the gunmen set fire to the building, leaving their bodies inside.
Another resident, identified only as Ejike, mentioned that the attack has caused panic in the community, leading many villagers, including other local chiefs, to flee the area out of fear of further violence.
“We don’t know the people who carried out the attack or why they attacked,” Ejike said.
Apart from Mr Ohazuruike, PREMIUM TIMES identified some of the slain village chiefs as Martin Osigwe, Ofoma Eji, Onuoha, Frederick Obiechefu, Ignatius Onuoha and Chinedu.
Efforts to reach Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo State, for comments were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
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