.Kidnap Two Community Leaders In Mbaitoli
Gunmen on Tuesday night killed the Ward Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC in Umuchoke Ward in Okwe in the Onuimo Local Government of Imo State, Christian Ihim.
The gunmen after killing Ihim who is popularly known as Zako, kidnapped five other chieftains of the ruling party in the community.
Community sources told our correspondent that the attackers shot repeatedly all through the night making the villagers to flee.
Apart from killing and kidnapping the APC chieftains, the gunmen were said to have invaded a neighbouring community called Okwelle and also kidnapped a female member of the APC identified as Onyinyechi Egenti.
The slain chairman is said to be a former aide of the immediate past National Organizing Secretary of APC, Emma Ibediro.
One of the sources said that the community has been deserted.
A source said “ the Ward Chairman of APC in Umuchoke Okwe in Onuimo Local Government Area has been killed. Apart from killing him they also kidnapped five APC members in the community. They also went to Okwelle community and kidnapped an APC female member known as Onyinyechi Egenti. Our community is on the run now. They shot like it was a war period.”
Source said that gunmen had on December 15 killed the Labour Party candidate for the Onuimo LGA state House of Assembly election, Christopher Elehu, popularly known as Wasco, after razing his country home in Okwe community.
Also, gunmen have kidnapped two community Leaders in Ogbaku in the Mbaitoli LGA of the state.
The abduction of the two community Leaders had put the community in a state of confusion.
The victims were identified as Fidelis Nwaebele and Kelechi Iherizie.
A source in the community who doesn’t want to be mentioned said, “they came around 7pm. They drove to Fidelis Nwaebele house, released several gunshots and caught him. They later proceeded to Kelechi Iherizie’s shop surrounded him and caught him too.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Police in the State, Henry Okoye, promised to get back to our correspondent after enquiries but refused to take several calls put across to him.
