OKIGWE, Nigeria – In a tragic incident that has sent shockwaves through the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, six traders were shot dead at the Gariki Market.
The attack, believed to have been carried out by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, June 5, 2024.
The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has taken direct control of the investigation and pursuit of the assailants.
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, he visited Okigwe for an on-the-spot assessment of the market and expressed the police’s commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
During his visit, CP Danjuma conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and the market leaders, stating, “I assure you that the command will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators of this dastardly act are all arrested and brought to book.”
In response to the attack, the police, in collaboration with the military and local vigilantes, have launched intensive operations in the area to apprehend those responsible for the violence.
CP Danjuma urged the residents of Okigwe to continue their daily activities without fear, assuring them that adequate security measures have been implemented to prevent future occurrences.
He also called on the community to support law enforcement by providing actionable intelligence, urging residents to report any suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station.
According to PUNCH Metro, the attack began around midnight at Ama Hausa in Garki, Okigwe LGA, and continued until about 9 a.m. when Nigerian Army troops intervened.
A witness, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, recounted the terrifying experience, “As of early hours of Wednesday around midnight, we heard persistent gunshots from around the Garki area. It lasted for about an hour and six persons died.”
