Blood stained Irette Road in Umuguma, Owerri West LGA of Imo State, on Sunday, June 1, 2025, after armed assailants brutally gunned down a prominent land investor and abducted his wife in a chilling daylight ambush that has left the community rattled and security agencies scrambling.
Eyewitnesses say the attack unfolded around 4:30 pm as the investor, his wife, and two land agents were traveling in a Toyota Highlander SUV to inspect a property. The assailants, masked and armed, intercepted their vehicle, forcing it to a halt before dragging the occupants out at gunpoint. The woman was immediately seized and whisked away, while her husband initially managed to escape into the nearby bushes.
Tragically, his attempt to return and rescue his wife proved fatal. The attackers reportedly spotted him emerging from hiding, and without hesitation, shot him multiple times at close range. His lifeless body was left sprawled on the roadside as the gunmen vanished into the forest with the kidnapped woman.
The surviving land agents fled the scene, with one sustaining injuries during the chaos. Residents who arrived moments later alerted the police, who promptly evacuated the victim’s body and secured the vehicle, which had been abandoned by the attackers.
Police authorities, confirming the killing and abduction, stated that a manhunt is underway. Imo State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, disclosed that a tactical search operation, spearheaded by the Area Commander of Owerri Urban, has commenced in the forests surrounding Umuguma to rescue the kidnapped woman and apprehend the culprits.
While the victim’s identity remains undisclosed pending official release, sources describe him as a successful investor from Anambra State known for his expansive property deals in Imo. His brutal murder has reignited concerns over the rising spate of kidnappings and targeted killings across Imo communities.
The Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has reportedly ordered aerial surveillance and boots-on-ground patrols across Owerri West, warning that the force will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice. As the state grapples with a resurgence of violent crimes, residents are demanding swift action and renewed security assurances.
