By Dozie Tobechukwu

ORLU (IMO STATE)- Tragedy struck in Orlu Town of Imo State as suspected dare-devil Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), gang killed a serving police officer attached to Orlu Police Divisional Headquarters, Sergeant Sunday Osagie, in what many described as ripresal attack for allegedly killing their four members who were on a robbery mission.

The suspected armed IPOB gang after killing Sergeant Sunday Osagie, an indigene of Benin City, the Edo State Capital were reported to have left a threat message to wipe out the deceased family members wherever they are sighted.

The development could not be unconnected with the disappearance of the late officer’s eldest child, Precious Osagie (female ), her three siblings and her step-mother as their whereabouts and safety have continued to generate sorrow and pains amongst residents and sympathisers in the town.

Speaking with our Crime Correspondent, a source who identified himself simply as Ifeanyi, said the late Osagie in company of other police officers attached to the Division on routine patrol in the area engaged four IPOB members who were in on robbery operation in gun duel on Maech 25, 2019, killing the four robbers on the stop.

The source disclosed that the killing of the robbers by the police did not go down well with the top notch in IPOB Imo State, hence, the people vowed to wipe out the late officer and his family members for apparently leading the patrol team that killed their members.

He informed further that residents of the area were shocked when some armed IPOB members invaded Sergeant Sunday Osagie’s house in commando-like-style on April 27, 2019 in search of Mr. Osagie and family members for possibly execution after about one month of the killing of their members.

“But Sergeant Sunday Osagie was not at home while Precious went to lecture as she is preparing to write her NECO Examinations, just as her siblings and her step-mother were not at home too when the dare-devil IPOB members invaded.

“Luck, however, ran out of Mr. Osagie as he walked into the armed IPOB members who opened fire on him, thereby killing him beyond recognition.

“The hoodlums later left a threat note behind, vowing to kill Precious, her siblings and her step-mother wherever ans whenever they set eyes on them”, our source disclosed.

Contacted, the Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nwanchukwu Chidi, confirmed the report, adding that IPOB members arrested in connection with the murder of the police officer have been released from detention over lack of evidence.

He said that all efforts made by the deceased’s family members to convinced authorities that those arrested IPOB members were responsible for the killing of Sergeant Sunday Osagie, were not successful.

ASA Nwanchukwu noted that the disappearance of the deceased’s members could not be unconnected with the release of the IPOB members by the police, who he said have vowed to go after them after regaining their freedom from the police.

Meanwhile, as at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts and safety of Precious Osagie, her siblings and step-mother remain unknown.