Unknown gunmen kill Imo lawyer handling cases of violence in Orlu

By COLLINS OSUJI, Owerri

One Darlington Chidume Odume popularly known as Omekagu, a legal practitioner, has been killed by suspected gunmen in Imo State.

Odume, whose wife was said to be a serving police officer, was called to bar about five years ago. He was shot dead around 4 pm on Wednesday.

His death came barely two days after an Anglican Priest, Rev. Emeka Merenu was murdered at his parsonage in Iheteukwa, Orsu council area of the state by yet to be identified persons.

The Guardian also gathered from a reliable source that the assailants shot Odume in front of a supermarket at Umudara Amaifeke Orlu, Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

It was also gathered that the late Odume was a renowned legal practitioner in Orlu, who was handling some of the cases of those arrested in connection with the violence rocking the area.

According to the source, “the victim who was rushed to a hospital in the area, but was rejected and referred to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, gave up the ghost on the way to the teaching hospital.

“They stormed a supermarket at Umudara Amaifeke, Orlu and shot him on the chest and zoomed off.

“He was rushed to a hospital in the area but they rejected him, referring them to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu but he died along the way.

“Omekagu was handling some of the cases of those arrested and believed to be innocent due to the violence in Orlu. His wife is a police officer.

“The entire community has been thrown into mourning,” the source stated.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Michael Abattam confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said the state Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Rabiu has ordered a full scare investigation into the incident.

“The Commissioner of Police has already detailed the Commissioner of Police in charge of CID to do a full-blown investigation into the matter and to apprehend those behind the act,” Abattam said. (The Guardian)