OWERRI, Nigeria – Two police officers were shot dead by unidentified gunmen at a security checkpoint on the Owerri-Okigwe road in Imo State early Tuesday, June 11, 2024, morning.
The assailants also fatally shot a civilian inside a nearby house, causing panic among local residents.
The attack occurred around 6:25 a.m. in Akabo, within the Ikeduru Local Government Area of the state, according to an eyewitness who confirmed the incident to reporters.
A voice in a viral video circulating on social media described the scene: “This just happened now. Unknown gunmen have shot two police officers at Akabo in Ikeduru LGA. Also, a civilian was shot.”
The video footage revealed two uniformed police officers lying motionless on the ground, with another body visible inside a room.
Another eyewitness in the video provided additional details: “Unknown gunmen in a vehicle driving roughly were shooting sporadically after killing the two police officers at a security checkpoint and also shot a man inside his house. They targeted the man and shot him.”
The sudden violence has left the community in disarray, with residents fleeing for safety and shop owners hastily closing their businesses.
A resident, who requested anonymity due to security concerns, expressed the widespread fear: “We are running. Nobody knows what is next. So we have to take cover for the moment until everything is calm. The best thing is to close your shop at the moment.”
As of the time of reporting, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, had not issued an official statement regarding the attack.
