A market woman Mrs Ngozi Umeh was killed and five people injured after the explosion of a landmine inside the Eke Ubaheze Market Square, Awo-Idemili, Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State.
The explosion occurred at 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday as trading operations were taking place in the market, killing one woman, Mrs Ngozi Umeh of Ubaheze village, after she walked on a planted landmine, however residents claim two persons killed in the explosion.
Henry Okoye, the Imo State police spokesperson, told reporters on Wednesday that the landmine was laid by suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network.
Okoye, who confirmed the occurrence to our correspondent, stated that Mrs Umeh was promptly taken to the hospital, where she died, and that the five injured people are currently being treated at an unnamed facility.
According to him, when the state Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, learnt of the event, he promptly deployed operatives from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, who scanned the area for unidentified bombs and pronounced the area safe after screening.
Okoye stated that routine commercial activities have resumed under heightened police observation.
He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the explosion occurred when Ngozi Umeh ‘F’, a middle-aged woman from Ubaheze village, stepped on a landmine suspected to have been planted by IPOB/ESN terrorist. She was critically injured and later confirmed dead at the hospital, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are receiving medical attention.
“Upon receipt of the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, Aboki Danjuma, swiftly deployed operatives of the command’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, tactical teams, and personnel from Orsu and Orlu Divisions to cordon off the area, evacuate victims, and sweep the market vicinity for any other planted IEDs. The area has since been declared safe, and normal activities have resumed under enhanced security surveillance.”
Meanwhile, Imo police chief Danjuma has expressed condolences to Mrs Umeh’s family and prayed for the injured victims’ speedy recovery.
He did, however, reiterate the Imo State Police Command’s resolve to removing any offenders disturbing the peace in Orsu and across Imo State.
The police spokeswoman told the state that enough security measures had been put in place to prevent a repetition, and that they should continue their authorised operations.
Furthermore, he urged Imo residents to immediately report any suspicious things, people, or movements to the local police station or phone the Command’s emergency number 08034773600.
Furthermore, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department has been asked to launch a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend the culprits.
