Rita Odafe
On Thursday, May 8, a commercial bus on the Okigwe-Owerri road in Imo State was attacked by armed individuals, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Following the assault, the attackers set fire to at least eight vehicles, including a truck whose driver managed to escape.
Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating that police and other security forces have initiated a manhunt for those responsible for the attack.
“The Imo State Police Command is working closely with the Military, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies in a coordinated effort to track down the suspects, believed to be linked to the banned IPOB/ESN group. The armed assailants targeted innocent travelers early Thursday morning,” he explained.
According to Okoye, the attackers operated in three teams and blocked the road around 5 am, firing indiscriminately and causing widespread panic before igniting vehicles and motorcycles.
“Unfortunately, we have confirmed reports of casualties due to the ambush,” he noted.
He also mentioned that CP Aboki Danjuma, the state’s Commissioner of Police, led a tactical unit that included the Police, Army, DSS, and other agencies to the scene. The team provided immediate assistance to those affected and initiated a thorough operation to apprehend the fleeing attackers.
Okoye added that a “full-scale search and cordon operation is currently in progress, with security personnel scouring nearby forests and areas believed to harbor the suspects.”
He reassured the community that efforts will persist until all involved are captured and held accountable.
