Suspected gunmen murder man, abduct wife in Imo community
A Nigerian man based in the United States has been brutally murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Imo State, while his wife was abducted during the same attack.
The tragic incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday along the Irete–Umuguma Road, near Golden Estate and Abba Father Avenue in Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area.
The victim, originally from Ihiala in Anambra State, had travelled to the area with his wife to finalise a land purchase.
They were accompanied by two local land agents in a Toyota Highlander SUV for a scheduled site inspection when the assailants struck.
According to a family source, the couple and their companions were ambushed by armed men believed to be herdsmen.
The deceased initially escaped but returned in a brave attempt to rescue his abducted wife. Unfortunately, he was overpowered and shot in the head at close range.
The attackers fled into a nearby forest with the woman, leaving the SUV and several injured victims behind. The land agents reportedly sustained injuries while trying to flee the scene.
Security operatives were alerted by witnesses and arrived shortly after to recover the man’s lifeless body.
The incident has triggered fear and tension across Umuguma and surrounding communities, including Irete, Nekede, Avu, Amakohia-Ubi, Okuku, and Ndegwu—all of which have seen a rise in attacks by suspected armed herders in recent months.
Reacting to the incident, Secretary of the Owerri West Local Government Area, Dr. Fidel Onyeneke, expressed deep sorrow over the killing and called for urgent security interventions.
“I want to say with mincing words that I’m worried about the state of insecurity in different parts of the country, and particularly in Imo State and in the situation where people come back to their country home and they are no longer secure. It is highly regrettable.
“I am aware of the incident in reference where somebody went to see land and in the process he and his wife were kidnapped, and it led to the death of the person who returned from abroad.
“Be that as it may, I want the federal government to mount pressure on the state governments to use various measures and methods, both kinetic and non-kinetic measures, to fight insecurity in our various rural areas.”
He called for the formation of forest guards who will work with conventional security agencies to fish out these common criminals who have occupied various bushes and forests.
The police spokesperson in Imo State, DSP Henry Okoye, who confirmed the incident, said that the command has launched an investigation into the ugly murder.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had directed the deployment of tactical teams, with the Area Commander for Owerri Urban assigned to lead a manhunt through the dense forests of Owerri West.
“The Command is fully aware of this unfortunate incident and has commenced a vigorous operation to apprehend the culprits and ensure justice is served,” Okoye said.
