Gunmen Kill Two Policemen Attached to Imo Lawmaker, Lawmaker Missing

Two police officers assigned to a member of the Imo State House of Assembly were killed on Sunday evening, August 3, in a deadly ambush near the Okigwe Roundabout. The identity of the lawmaker remains undisclosed, and their whereabouts are currently unknown.

According to a police wireless message, the attack occurred at approximately 5:35 pm after the lawmaker’s vehicle reportedly broke down along the road. The officers had exited the vehicle to seek assistance when armed men suspected to be affiliated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) opened fire on them, killing both on the spot.

The attackers were said to have carted away the officers’ assault rifles during the ambush. At the time of reporting, efforts to locate the missing lawmaker have not yielded any results, raising fears of a possible abduction.

The official police communication stated: “ATTACK ON POLICE OFFICERS X SUN. AUG 3, 2025 X BE INFORMED THAT AT ABOUT 1735HRS VERY CLOSE TO OKIGWE ROUNDABOUT X TWO POLICEMEN ATTACHED TO A YET TO BE IDENTIFIED HONOURABLE MEMBER WERE ATTACKED BY ESN/IPOB MILITIA AND THEIR ASSAULT RIFLES CARTED AWAY X FURTHER INFORMATION HAS IT THAT THE HONOURABLE MEMBER’S VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ALONG THE ROAD AND IN A BID TO SEEK ASSISTANCE X THESE MILITIAS OPENED FIRE ON THEM KILLING TWO POLICEMEN ON THE SPOT WHILE THE HONOURABLE MEMBER IS NOT YET ACCOUNTED FOR X FURTHER SITREP WILL BE COMMUNICATED IF THE NEED ARISES X ABOVE FOR YOUR KIND INFORMATION.”

This incident adds to the growing insecurity in the South-East region, where non-state actors have repeatedly launched violent attacks on security forces, government officials, and civilians. Recent reports have documented hundreds of killings and abductions across the region since late 2024, as armed groups continue to operate with increasing boldness.

Security agencies are expected to issue further updates as investigations progress and efforts intensify to rescue the missing lawmaker and apprehend those responsible.