Gunmen kill ex-police officer, wife in Imo

Tension is gradually brewing up in the Owerri metropolises of Imo State following the murder of a couple by gunmen on Sunday night.

The husband, a  retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) identified as Mr Sampson Owobo from Edo State, and his wife were sent to their early grave around 8 pm last Sunday beside the Chisco Transport company office very close to the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters at Egbu Road-Owerri, the state capital.

 The ugly situation threw the residents and business owners into confusion as they scamper for their dear life

The residents immediately ran inside and locked all entries leading to their apartments, while business people locked their shops and ran home.

An eye witnessed told Nigerian Tribune that the fleeing armed robbers who operated in a vehicle were trying to dispossess the couple who run a Point Of Sale business their bag containing unidentified amount of money.

According to him when the three man gang could not succeed in snatching the bag of money, they shot the retired ASP on a close ranged at his fore head, close to his eyes.

The wife of the ex-police officer was also shot at her left hand side, close to her chest at a closed range.

While the husband died on the spot, his wife was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, by policemen where she was pronounced dead.

He said that the gunmen were carrying pump action riffles and were trying to carry a bag containing money of the deceased said to be runing a POS business and also sell loaves of bread.

When they could not succeed in carrying the bag of money according to him, they shot the couple on closed ranges.

He said: “They shot the man on a closed range at his fore head, closed to his eyes. They shot his wife on a close ranged too, at her left hand side, very close to her chest. While the man died immediately, his wife who was bleeding profusely was pronounced dead at FMC – Owerri.

Tribune learnt that the deceased ASP retired about five years ago.

He said: “They armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.”

The Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer  ASP Henry Okoye, when contacted on Monday, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the police in the state were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.

He said: “The murder of the couple is highly condemnable. The CP frowns at the killing of the couple and he has immediately ordered investigation into their killings with the mandate to apprehend the fleeing criminals”.

READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

• Oyo: Gov Makinde approves August 20 as Isese day

• Press Time Podcast: Soft Skills, Opportunities and things in-between

• Tinubu to swear in new ministers Monday

• Subsidy palliative: States get N5bn grant each from FG

• VIDEO: NGO Founder, Omodolapo, urges women to join women communities

• EDITORIAL: Nigeria’s FIFA shame