By NewsBits
Fresh facts have emerged on how gunmen on Sunday night, arrived a business centre operating a Point-On-Sale (POS) outfit near Chisco Transport Company in Owerri, Imo State capital, killing a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and his wife.
The names of the dead couple who hailed from Edo State were given as Mr and Mrs Sampson Owobo.
NewsBits learnt that the incident which happened around 8pm is also close to the Owerri Area Police Command office which houses the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters at Egbu Road, Owerri the state capital.
While the residents immediately ran inside and locked all entries leading to their apartments, businesspeople locked their shops and ran home. An eyewitness who preferred to remain anonymous said that the fleeing armed robbers who operated in a vehicle were trying to dispossess the couple who run a Point Of Sale business their bag containing unidentified amount of money.
According to the eyewitness, when the three-man gang could not succeed in snatching the bag of money, they shot the retired ASP on a close ranged at his fore head, close to his eyes while his wife was also shot at her left hand side, close to her chest.
The man died on the spot while his wife was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri, by policemen where she was confirmed dead.
“Three armed men just killed a husband and his wife. This incident happened close to the Chisco Transport company office which is very close to Owerri police Area command headquarters and Owerri Urban police Divisional headquarters, at fire Service on Egbu Road-Owerri.
” The armed robbers were carrying pump action riffles and were trying to carry a bag containing money. The husband and wife run a POS business and also sell loaves of bread. When they could not succeed in carrying the bag of money, they shot the couple on closed ranges.
“They shot the man on a closed range at his forehead, closed to his eyes. They shot his wife on a close ranged too, at her left-hand side, very close to her chest. While the man died immediately, his wife who was bleeding profusely was pronounced dead at FMC – Owerri.
“The man’s name is Sampson Owobo. He hailed from Edo State. He is a retired police officer. He retired with the rank of ASP. He retired about five years ago or so. They armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.”, an witness narrated.
Contacted, the spokesperson for the Police in the state, Henry Okoye, confirmed the murder of the couple and disclosed that the police in the state were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.
“The murder of the couple is highly condemnable. The CP frowns at the killing of the couple and he has immediately ordered investigation into their killings with the mandate to apprehend the fleeing criminals.” he said.
