Gunmen Monday night invaded Orogwe, a community in the Owerri Local Government Area of Imo State, and engaged in a shooting spree.
Community sources who did not want to be mentioned told Punch correspondent that while seven persons died as a result of the shooting, other victims were rushed to the Emergency Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, the state capital.
According to the sources, trouble began after security operatives suspected to be members of Ebubeagu Security outfit came to the village and whisked a youth away.
Some gunmen in retaliation stormed the community and began shooting sporadically.
One of the sources said, “Ebubeagu people came and took away a youth from the community. On Monday night, some men with guns came to the community and stormed a building site and opened fire. Seven persons died while others wounded were rushed to the FMC Owerri.
“An okada man who was driving through was caught in the crossfire. He was rushed to the FMC Owerri emergency unit where medical personnel are battling to save his life and others. This is so unfortunate. The community is in panic. People are running away.”
A source at the FMC Owerri told the newspaper correspondent that the emergency unit of the hospital was jampacked with anxious friends, relatives and well-wishers of the victims and injured ones who had stormed the hospital.
He said, “The emergency unit is filled. Many people here. The unit is rowdy. Six dead bodies are here while others that are critically injured are being attended to by medical personnel.”
Though police in the state is yet to confirm the report, a source claimed that security operatives visited the hospital on Tuesday.
It was learnt that the Orogwe community on Tuesday (today), was deserted as Ebubeagu operatives were reportedly in the community arresting young people.
