OWERRI, Nigeria — A retired police officer and his wife were killed in an armed robbery in the state capital of Imo State, Owerri, police officials confirmed on Monday, August 21, 2023.
The incident occurred last Sunday night at a point-of-sale, PoS, shop along Egbu Road.
The assailants targeted the establishment owned by “a young man”, according to police records.
The Imo State Police Command spokesperson, Henry Okoye, relayed the tragic details to journalists.
“We received a distress call last Sunday night that robbers had attacked the shop,” Okoye stated.
The attackers managed to overpower the shop owner, taking cash and personal belongings.
But the situation turned dire when the parents of the shop owner intervened.
In a tragic twist, the shop owner’s father, who had served as a police officer before his retirement, and his mother were both shot by the perpetrators.
“The parents of the shop owner came out to intervene, leading to this unfortunate tragedy,” Okoye recounted.
The couple was immediately taken to a nearby medical facility but, tragically, both succumbed to their injuries.
Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, expressed his deep condolences to the grieving family.
He swiftly ordered an exhaustive investigation into the incident.
“We are determined to bring these culprits to justice,” Barde assured. Further amplifying the police’s commitment to solving the case, the anti-robbery squad of the command has been activated to track down the assailants.
As Owerri grapples with this shocking incident, the community mourns the loss of two of its own, emphasizing the pressing need for heightened security measures and a reinforced effort to combat crime.
Horrors: Mass Grave Uncovered Near Nigerian Border as Cameroon Grapples with Separatist Conflict
A discovery near the border with Nigeria, Cameroon military officials have uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of nine civilians, among them five government officials.
Rebels abducted these individuals in June of last year.
Cameroon government forces were directed to the site of the mass grave by a former separatist fighter, who, after involvement in the heinous act, decided to lay down arms and join a disarmament initiative.
Located approximately 20 kilometers from Ekondo Titi in Ndian, close to the Nigerian border, the grave tells a grim tale of an area fraught with tension and recurrent separatist incursions.
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Nguele led the mission, confirming that the bodies had been retrieved and would be transported to Buea for families to undertake identification processes.
“These souls can finally be put to rest,” said Nguele, “Their status changed from ‘missing’ to ‘deceased’.”
Notorious separatist general, 10 Kobo, is believed to have orchestrated the abductions last June.
Shortly thereafter, separatist forces took to social media, alleging that these officials were taken due to perceived alliances with the central government.
Mabia Johnson Mudika, one of the abducted officials, met his fate just days after the incident, while the status of the others remained shrouded in mystery.
Clues emerged only recently when Tamaya Clinton, a former separatist who defected, divulged that his comrades had killed the officials.
While it remains unclear whether Clinton played a part in guiding the military to the site, the grim discovery has stirred sentiments on both sides.
Governor Bernard Bilai of the Southwest Region passionately spoke on Cameroon’s state broadcaster CRTV on Saturday, August 5, 2023.
He highlighted the sheer brutality of the separatist forces and made a fervent plea for the remaining fighters to either surrender or face the might of the government troops.
Originating in 2017, the roots of the separatist conflict trace back to grievances from English-speaking regions against perceived marginalization by the French-speaking majority.
The military’s harsh response to initial protests escalated matters, leading to full-blown conflict, claiming thousands of lives and resulting in many displacements.
The International Crisis Group’s estimates suggest a death toll of around 6,000 and displacements exceeding 750,000.
