KEY POINTS

• Several residents were injured after gunmen attacked communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

• Victims and residents said the attackers invaded Eziobodo, Ihiagwa and nearby villages, opening fire on people at night.

• Police said operatives and local vigilantes foiled an attempted abduction and have launched operations to track down the attackers.

Several people have been injured following a violent attack by gunmen on communities in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.

The attack reportedly occurred on Wednesday night when armed men invaded Eziobodo, Ihiagwa and surrounding villages, causing panic among residents.

The affected communities host the Federal University of Technology Owerri, popularly known as FUTO.

Residents told journalists that the attackers stormed the communities at about 9 p.m. and began shooting sporadically at people.

Some residents suspected that the attackers were armed herders, although authorities have yet to officially confirm the identity of the gunmen.

One of the victims, a commercial motorcyclist who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, narrated his experience from a clinic where he was receiving treatment.

According to him, he had initially refused to continue a journey with a passenger due to fears about the security situation in the area, but the passenger persuaded him to proceed because they were close to the destination.

The motorcyclist explained that while travelling through a bush path between Ihiagwa and Eziobodo, he became suspicious after spotting an abandoned motorcycle on the road.

He said he advised the passenger that they should turn back because he feared the owner of the motorcycle might have been attacked.

Gunmen Open Fire on Victims

The victim said moments later, armed men dressed in black emerged from the bush and attempted to attack them.

According to him, two of the attackers ran toward him and his passenger, but retreated after noticing he was moving at speed on the motorcycle.

However, another gunman outside the bush reportedly opened fire and shot him.

Another disturbing video obtained after the incident showed a young boy, believed to be about three years old, receiving treatment for a deep injury to his forehead allegedly inflicted during the attack.

In the video, a visibly distressed man carrying the child claimed that some people were killed in Eziobodo during the invasion.

Another voice in the background lamented that armed herders had allegedly taken over the community.

However, the reported deaths and claims regarding the identity of the attackers could not be independently verified.

The spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the attack in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to him, preliminary investigations showed that the gunmen attempted to abduct a victim along the Umuokwo Ihiagwa/Eziobodo Road.

He stated that the attempted abduction was resisted through the combined efforts of police officers, local vigilante groups and community members who quickly mobilised to the area.

Mr Okoye said the victim who sustained gunshot injuries during the attack was immediately taken to a hospital and is currently receiving treatment.

Following the attack, the police said security deployment had been reinforced across the affected communities to prevent further violence.

The Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Audu Bosso, reportedly deployed operatives of the newly created Violent Crime Response Unit to track down the attackers.

The police commissioner assured residents that security agencies were fully in control of the situation and had intensified intelligence-driven operations aimed at arresting those responsible.

Residents were also urged to remain calm, vigilant and report suspicious movements or activities to security agencies.