Gunmen enforcing the five-day (December 9-12 and 14) sit-at-home order by factional leader of the Independent People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, on Friday evening killed four persons at two locations on Owerri-Okigwe Road in Imo State.

The gunmen also kidnapped two expatriates supervising the ongoing construction of the phase 11 of the Owerri-Okigwe Road.

The killings occurred at Umunachi in the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state and at Umuna in the Onuimo LGA, respectively.

The expatriates were kidnapped at Umunachi after two persons suspected to be their security aides were gunned down.

The expatriates, who are staff of German construction giants, Cremburg, were taken away immediately the gunmen struck.

Locals told our correspondent that the fleeing suspects operated in three vehicles.

At Umuna junction, the gunmen opened fire and killed two persons.

Our correspondent saw a video footage where two young men were lying in the pool of their blood at Umuna.

An eyewitness said: “They just killed these two men now at Umuna. This act was carried out by gunmen enforcing sit-at-home. This just happened now-now. We are now afraid.”

Gunmen had also in the afternoon of Friday killed prince Chidi Iheme, elder brother to Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, popularly known as Pawpaw.

Iheme was killed at Ubomiri in the Mbaitoli LGA of the state while allegedly on transit to a campaign rally being organised by the All Progressives Congress candidate for Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi.

The state Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke, whom he was riding in the same vehicle with, was badly injured with machete.

In a related development, gunmen suspected to be enforcing the five-day sit-at-home this Saturday morning attacked and burnt police patrol vehicle at New Market area of Enugu, the Enugu State capital.

Although the details of the attack were still sketchy, a senior police officer confirmed the attack to our correspondent.

He, however, noted no life was lost, adding that a manhunt on the gunmen had been launched.

A short video clip of the incident which our correspondent obtained showed a white patrol vehicle of police on fire.

It was gathered that the gunmen who were numbering over 10 had stormed the New Market area as early as 6am probably to shut down the market but they were confronted by some policemen patrolling the market area to reassure traders of their safety.

They were reported to have engaged the policemen in a gun duel and eventually succeeded in setting ablaze their vehicle while the policemen fled.

An eyewitness, Mike Ezeh, said: “I saw group of boys around 6am this morning shouting on traders coming to market to go home. They were shouting don’t you know there’s sit-at-home? Why are you disobeying it?

“Shortly, I saw a police patrol vehicle coming and immediately, they engaged them in a shootout. I left my goods and ran to safety. After the shooting stopped, I came out and saw they had set ablaze the police patrol vehicle in front of the Colliery hospital,” Ezeh said.

Efforts to speak with the state police public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as he could not answer his calls. (Pieced together from stories by Saturday PUNCH)

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