By Omotayo Edubi
Nollywood actor Osita Iheme, popularly known as Paw Paw, lost his brother on Friday, December 9, following an attack by gunmen.
Gunmen attacked some parts of Imo State on Friday afternoon. The gunmen were enforcing the five-day sit-at-home order.
The armed men attacked several locations and killed a policeman, Prince Iheme, elder brother to Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme.
The gunmen also macheted the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Martin Eke.
According to sources, the attackers rode in Tundra operational vehicles, shot sporadically, thereby forcing people to run for cover.
Also, businesses were immediately crippled and the roads were deserted, as motorists abandoned their vehicles and ran helter-skelter.
At Orji, near Owerri, the gunmen wearing black clothes in three vehicles, attacked residents and passersby, including policemen.
Eyewitnesses said that the gunmen met policemen at 7Up junction at Orji and shot one cop dead.
“They just killed policemen now. They opened fire on them and were shouting ‘there is sit-at-home’. We have asked you to go home. Stay indoors.”‘
Another eyewitness said: “I just escaped death by the whiskers now. They stopped before us and and asked us to go home. They didn’t shoot at us maybe because I was in the midst of some elderly women.”
It was also gathered that the fleeing gunmen shot repeatedly at Nkwo-Orji market before taking off towards the Okigwe Road.
At Ubomri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area, the gunmen attacked the convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency, Akarachi Amadi.
While Prince Iheme was killed on the spot, Eke was matcheted.
“Prince Iheme was riding in the same vehicle with the commissioner for solid minerals, Martin Eke. Prince Iheme who is Pawpaw’s elder brother was killed on the spot.
“The commissioner who was sworn-in two weeks ago was cut badly. He has just been rushed to a hospital. They were driving in a Ford vehicle. I pray he makes it,” the witness said.
A woman, Onyii Manifestation and her child, also survived the attack at Obodoukwu in Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.
“Unknown gunmen!!! Thank you Jesus. They didn’t come for money but for life…They shot sporadically this afternoon but God protected his own. No life was lost!!! Help me thank God for saving us from the attack of unknown gunmen,” she said.