In Owerri, the capital of Imo State, panic swept through the city as fresh attacks were initiated by unknown assailants on Wednesday.
Gunmen previously targeted policemen on Orji Road on Monday, resulting in the tragic deaths of four officers and the theft of their firearms, according to NewsNow reports.
The latest attacks on Wednesday caused residents to flee in fear as gunfire rang out in various parts of the city.
Shootings were reported in areas such as the bustling Ikenegbu neighborhood, the busy Wethedral Road leading to the Government House, and Okigwe Road, extending from the Government House Junction to behind the Imo State University campus.
Other locations overrun by the assailants included the Amawusa area along Douglas Road and Toronto Street, which connects to MCC Road Junction.
One eyewitness, Mrs. Roseline Okeke, a street vendor at Relief Market near Fire Service Junction, described the chaotic scene as a frenzy of people ran for safety amidst the gunfire.
Similarly, a point of sale operator, Miss Ukamaka Nwole, recounted how the attackers unleashed multiple rounds of gunfire near the Fire Service Police Station before fleeing the area.
In response to the attacks, a group of police officers reportedly used tear gas to disperse the criminals.
Addressing the situation, ASP Henry Okoye, the spokesperson of the Imo Police Command, highlighted the guerilla tactics adopted by the hoodlums, who launch surprise attacks and then vanish into hiding.
He mentioned that Police Commissioner Aboki Danjuma personally led the efforts to confront the gunmen, ensuring that law enforcement is actively engaged in addressing the escalating violence.
Okoye emphasized the commitment to capturing the perpetrators, dead or alive, and urged the public to report any suspicious individuals or activities to the authorities, declaring solidarity in the quest for peace and security in Imo State.