Assassins kill couple, abduct three children

There was pandemonium in Okwelle community, in the Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State after a couple were murdered by some suspected assassins.

It was learnt that the assailants had stormed the couple’s house on Saturday evening wielding cutlasses and other weapons.

They were said to have taken turns to rape the woman in the presence of her husband and their children, after which the couple were hacked to death.

Our correspondent learnt the assailants subsequently fled with the deceased’s three children.

The Imo State Police Command, which confirmed the incident, said the cause of the attack had yet to be ascertained, He added that some arrests had been made in connection with the killings.

However, a resident of the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the husband had a serious disagreement with a woman lately.

He said, “I got to know about the incident from a friend, who is a neighbour of the couple. I learnt the husband had a quarrel with a woman who followed the assassins to deal with the family. His wife was raped and given matchete cut and the killers went with their three children. The woman has been arrested.”

The Imo State Police Public Relations, DSP Andrew Enwerrem, said the police were making efforts to arrest the killers and to rescue the abducted children safely.

He said, “The couple were murdered and their three children were taken away and the police have made arrests of about three suspects, who are undergoing investigation. The children have not been recovered. I don’t have the names of the couple with me now.”