Tragedy: Gunmen kill disabled man and artisan in Imo community

DDM News

Unidentified gunmen have shot and killed a physically challenged man and a local artisan in Ihube, Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the attack occurred on Tuesday night in the Ugwuntu area of the troubled community.

The physically challenged victim has been identified as Chukwuebuka Orji, popularly known as Onitsha Amaka, who had lived all his life in his maternal home in the area.

According to eyewitnesses, the gunmen stormed the community, dragged Orji out of his residence, and shot him dead on the spot.

The attackers also killed another man, simply known as Chinelo, a skilled artisan from Achara Uturu in Abia State, known for his expertise in Plaster of Paris (POP) ceiling installations.

Sources say Chinelo was connected to the Ihube community through his siblings, two of whom are married to residents in the area.

“They came at night and took the handicapped boy, Chukwuebuka Orji,” a local source recounted.

“They also took Chinelo, an in-law in the community, and shot them both.”

The source added, “I don’t know Chinelo’s surname, but he is from Achara Uturu in Abia State. He’s known for doing POP work.”

The motive behind the brutal killings remains unclear as the Ihube area has witnessed persistent unrest in recent months.

This wave of violence has forced many residents to flee their homes for safety, raising concerns about security and governance in the region.

Attempts to reach the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile number did not connect, and a text message sent to him was not replied to as of the time of filing this report.

The killings have sparked renewed fears among residents, with many demanding immediate government intervention to curb the rising insecurity.

DDM will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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