Chaos has erupted in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, as sporadic gunfire continues throughout the city. According to a post by Eons Intelligence on X, the shooting is attributed to unknown gunmen.
The post reads: “At 11:30 AM today, July 31, 2024, Owerri Prison is under attack by unknown gunmen, with an ongoing gunfight involving the prison’s armed squad. Reinforcements from the military and other security forces are on the way.”
Another tweet from Eons Intelligence reports: “There is sporadic shooting across Owerri Municipal by unknown gunmen. Suspected hoodlums have also attacked the UBA bank on Wetheral Road. Please avoid these areas until normalcy is restored.”
While some reports suggest the gunfire is the work of unknown assailants, local sources in Owerri told SaharaReporters that they believe the shooting is not the result of a criminal attack. One source speculated that the incidents are orchestrated by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s administration to intimidate potential participants in tomorrow’s nationwide “Day of Rage” protests against hunger and misgovernance in Nigeria....[CONTINUE READING HERE ▶▶]
The source argued, “The city of Owerri is deserted, and there’s no sign of security forces managing the situation, which suggests that the shooting may be a tactic by the government to deter protesters. With police, military, and other security agencies stationed throughout the capital and numerous checkpoints set up, it’s unclear how the so-called gunmen could have carried out these attacks.”
Attempts by SaharaReporters to contact the State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful, as spokesperson ASP Henry Okoye did not respond to calls or text messages at the time of this report.