Traders Beat IPOB Member To Death For Trying To Enforce Sit-At-Home Order

Traders beat suspected IPOB member enforcing sit-at-home order to death in Imo

The police in Imo on Monday confirmed the death of an escapee of Imo Correctional Centre Owerri and a member of the proscribed IPOB/ESN group in the state.

The police spokesperson, CSP Michael Abattam, confirmed the incident to journalists in Owerri, Imo State.

Mr. Abattam said that the incident occurred on Monday at about 0745hrs, while residents of Umuagbavo Oru Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, came out of their houses for their daily business activities.

According to police, “One Obinwanne Iwu, 34, a native Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, came to the market with members of his gang attacking, looting opened shops and forcing people to lock up their shops and preventing them from doing their legitimate businesses.”

“Many shops were opened and people were going about their lawful businesses before the group started shouting at the top of their voices “today is Monday and every body must obey the sit-at-home order.”

“This did not go down well with the people who resisted it in its entirety.”

He said, “Pandemonium that ensured, angry mob in their numbers held the leader of the gang, one Obinwanne Iwu, tied his hands behind, while others fled the scene into hiding. In the process, he was mercilessly beaten to death, before the police patrol team arrived the scene.”

The police said efforts made by the police patrol team to arrest the perpetrators proved abortive as they all fled the scene on sighting the patrol team.

The PPRO further said, “The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, while condemning the barbaric act, advised members of the public to always hand over suspects to the Police for proper investigation and prosecution. Instead of taking the laws into their hands.”

He said an investigating team from the State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID) of the command has been set up to commence investigation into the mob action