The commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo state, Mr Declan Emelumba has said that one of the military officers that was killed on Friday, 8th of October, 2021 in Izombe when officers of the Nigerian military clashed with an oil bunkering gang was an indigene of Imo state.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy made this known while addressing newsmen in the state capital, Owerri.
He gave the run down on how the clash took place, saying that the military came into the community on the invitation of the indigenes when an oil bunkering gang led by it's leader, Obele (who was also killed in the clash) activities started causing great danger in the oil rich community.
Mr. Emelumba further said that Obele, an escapee from the Imo state correctional facility during a jail break, refused to be arrested by the military personnel, rather, him and his gang engaged the uniform men.
During the course of the confrontation, Obele was killed and his gang sensing that they might be next in line, attacked and killed two of the military officers, disarmed them, stripped them of their uniform and clubbed them to death.
“So unfortunate according to the security report the 80 per cent of the planning that led to the attack of the Owerri Correctional Center took place in the Oguta area. The suspect according to the security report was an escapee of the Owerri correctional centre during the time of jailbreak.” He said
“It is good to know this, it was the villagers who invited the military because of the security threat from this suspect that was killed and on seeing the military he engaged the military with his gun while they were trying to arrest him and in the process, he was killed.
“It was his men that now went and attacked the military and took two of the military officers to a particular place and collected their arms and ammunition collected their uniforms and beat them to death,” Emelumba further said.
Recall that, Imo Flash had earlier reported about the unfortunate incident at Izombe and the subsequent visit of the Governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma to commiserate with the Community on the aftermath of the destruction.
It is expected that with the visitation of The Executive Governor of Imo state,Senator Hope Uzodinma,that peace will return to the locality in a short while.
