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Heartland football of Owerri could not continue their journey toKadunaon Tuesday as heavy sporadic gunshots by unknown gunmen around Okene and Lokoja in Kogi state have halted the teams movement for the rescheduled match day 29 tie against Kaduna United today.
Speaking to ‘Imo Trumpeta’, the media officer Mr Cajetan Nkwopara, said they almost ran into the suspected sect (Boko haram), a dew kilometers from Okene as they were forced to make a frantic turn back to Auchi, Edo state.
“We were almost in Okene when we noticed that a huge crowd full of panic were running helter skelter and that buses were equally making frantic turns while others were driving in the opposite direction.
“Initially, nobody could confirm what the commotion was all about and the place it was actually taking place, until we were later informed that unknown gunmen around Okene and Lokoja were exchanging gun shorts with the military people, and no vehicle were passing through the scene.
“After wanting severally with no certainty of continuing on the journey, we called the NPL, informing them of our ordeal.
“Thereafter, we made inquiry at the nearest police station and we were directed to Auchi divisional police station where we made formal complaint”, said Nkwopara.
The team is reported to have returned back to Owerri yesterday awaiting further directions by the NPL who as at the time of the incident on Tuesday were just rounding off their baird meeting.
It would be recalled that earlier on Monday night, unkwon gunmen invaded the Deeper Life Bible church, Otite in Okene, Kogi state killing 16 worshipers on the spot, leaving many injured.
Meanwhile, the commandant Army headquarters battalion in Lokoja, the state capital, Lt Col. Gabriel Olorunnyomi confirmed the incident that took place around Okene and Lokoja when he said his men received a distress call from Okene area office.
He added that as his men were approaching the area, unknown gunmen came out from a nearby bush and opened fire on the soldiers, killing two soldiers
