Angry traders have beaten to death an escapee of Imo Correctional Centre Owerri and a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Obinwanne Iwu, in Ahiazu, Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, CSP Michael Abattam, who disclosed this to journalists said the incident occurred on Monday at about 0745hrs, while residents of Umuagbavo Oru Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, came out of their houses for their daily business activities.
Abattam said; “One Obinwanne Iwu, 34, a native Ahiara in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA of Imo State, came to the market with members of his gang attacking, looting opened shops and forcing people to lock up their shops and preventing them from doing their legitimate businesses.”
“Many shops were opened and people were going about their lawful businesses before the group started shouting at the top of their voices “today is Monday and every body must obey the sit-at-home order.”
“This did not go down well with the people who resisted it in its entirety.”
He said, “Pandemonium that ensured, angry mob in their numbers held the leader of the gang, one Obinwanne Iwu, tied his hands behind, while others fled the scene into hiding. In the process, he was mercilessly beaten to death, before the police patrol team arrived the scene.”
The PPRO said efforts made by the police patrol team to arrest the perpetrators proved abortive as they all fled the scene on sighting the patrol team.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Rabiu Hussaini, while condemning the barbaric act, advised members of the public to always hand over suspects to the Police for proper investigation and prosecution. Instead of taking the laws into their hands,” Abattam said.
He said an investigating team from the State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID) of the command has been set up to commence investigation into the mob action.