Enugu, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Not less than ten persons have sustained gunshot and machete injuries as a combined team of Police, Army and Ebubeagu Security Operatives invaded Izombe community in Oguta area of Imo on Saturday, on 6 August.
Also, seven vehicles were reportedly burnt during the attack.
The heavily armed team also destroyed and set ablaze about four buildings in Umuokwu community and 18 fully stocked shops at Ugbele Izombe community.
Mr Sampson Uka, a victim, told reporters on Saturday in Izombe that he was in the house with his children when suddenly the team stormed into his compound.
“I was inside the room when I started hearing gun shots and violent noise at the shops section of our compound.
“My wife even saw the heavily armed security operatives and they pointed gun at her and ordered her to get inside.
“When their noise became less, we came out, and noticed that the shops section of our house were destroyed with seven vehicles burnt in Ugbele village alone,” he said.
Uka noted also that one Ethelbert Ozor, Simeon Onyekador, plus six others sustained gun and machete wounds inflicted on them by the group in Ugbele.
A Community leader, Pauly Igbokwe condemned the repeated invasion of Izombe Community by Government Security Operatives.
He said, “It was in October last year that more than 150 buildings were completely burnt and destroyed in Umuokwu, Umuorji and Ndioko all in Aborshi Izombe by soldiers over a dispute they had with village boys.
“Nothing has been done on the colossal damage Innocent people suffered, and yet another attack is launched on the Izombe again,” he said.
Igbokwe stated that they were still at the first Saturday combined Mass of Catholic Men Organisation and Catholic Women Organisation at Holy Family Catholic Church Izombe when they received calls on the attack.
“We were at mass with Anuli Nzeocha, a young widow, when she was informed that security operatives had set her shop on fire, people including the priest helped to calm her down,” he said.
Igbokwe called on the state government to look into the repeated incidents of mass destruction of innocent people’s houses in Izombe and put a stop to it.