Suspected gunmen have killed a couple in Imo state.
The victims, Ifechukwu Martin and Gloria Mba. whose wedding was scheduled for January 18 were killed on Tuesday night in Arondizuogu in the Ideato North Local Government Area of the state.
The brother of the groom who was driving them also died in the attack.
The development has caused panic in the area as residents called on the government to arrest what they called increasing criminal activities in the area.
A local resident who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity said the gruesome murder of the victims required a holistic investigation.
He asked the government to deploy more security officers in the community to prevent it from happening again in the future.
He said: “This has been the situation in Arondizuogu for some time. A young man returning home for his marriage was murdered in his town last night with his girlfriend and the brother who was transporting them in his Keke. This happened at Ndiejezie Izuogu at Ideato LGA of Imo State.
“We complained about this reckless kidnapping, murder and burning of vehicles in Arondizuogu last year and to the PPRO and made sure that something had already been done about it.
“But since then the murders and kidnappings have been a daily occurrence. The people of Arondizuogu did not come back for Christmas and New Year. The few who came could not move in their car.
“As we speak, there was a mass exodus of people from Arondizuogu this morning after the incident last night.
“We need police and army patrols on Arondizuogu Okigwe road 24/7.
“They specialized in stealing flashy cars and killing the owner if he refuses or goes on the run. Sometimes cars burn up in the process. We are no longer safe in Arondizuogu. Students are afraid to go to school, our mothers no longer go to the market for fear of the unknown. Please help us before we finish.”
State police spokesman Micheal Abattam confirmed the incident when contacted by our correspondent.
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