By Nurat Uthman
On Sunday night, a couple named Mr and Mrs Sampson Owobo were fatally shot by three gunmen in Owerri, the capital of Imo State.
Mr Owobo, who was from Edo State, had retired as an Assistant Superintendent of Police. The incident occurred around 8 pm near the Chisco Transport company office, which is in close proximity to the Owerri Area police command office and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters on Egbu Road.
This caused panic among residents and business owners, who quickly took refuge in their homes and locked their shops.
According to an eyewitness, the armed robbers, who were attempting to rob the couple, who ran a Point of Sale business, and steal their bag of money, fled the scene after failing to do so. In the process, they shot Mr Owobo in the forehead, close to his eyes, and his wife on the left side of her hand, near her chest.
While Mr Owobo died immediately, his wife was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri, where she later passed away.
The eyewitness described the incident as follows:
“Three armed men just killed a husband and his wife. This incident happened near the Chisco Transport company office, which is very close to the Owerri Police Area command headquarters and Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters, by the fire Service on Egbu Road-Owerri.
The armed robbers were carrying pump-action rifles and were attempting to steal a bag of money. The couple ran a POS business and also sold loaves of bread. When they failed to steal the bag of money, they shot the couple at close range.
The man was shot in the forehead, near his eyes, while his wife was shot on her left-hand side, close to her chest. The man died immediately, and his wife, who was bleeding heavily, was pronounced dead at FMC-Owerri.”
The identity of the armed robbers is still unknown, and they have not been apprehended.
This tragic crime took place in close proximity to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters, which is deeply concerning.
“The armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, confirmed the murder of the couple and disclosed that the police in the state were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.
“The murder of the couple is highly condemnable. The CP frowns at the killing of the couple and he has immediately ordered an investigation into their killings with the mandate to apprehend the fleeing criminals.” Okoye said