Contrary to claims and assurances by the Imo state government and its officials that security challenges in the state have been nipped in the bud, there is still cause for alarm, as unknown gunmen, on Wednesday shot an Orlu based human rights lawyer, Barr Darlington Odume, popularly known as Omekagu to death.
Computer centre where Odume was killed
According to a family source, the deceased left his office located at Amaifeke after close of work to make photocopies somewhere before going home when the hoodlums who may have trailed him from his office shot him at close range.
Late Barr Omekagu, a graduate of Imo state university, Owerri and a former president of National Association of Orlu students was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Orlu where they refused to attend to him. Efforts to rush him to another hospital was futile as he was said to have died on the way.
It was also gathered that the assailants after shooting Barr Omekagu, stabbed him repeatedly on the chest with a knife to ensure that he did not survive the attack.
Another source who spoke to this reporter stated that the deceased was known for rendering professional services to the down trodden and less privileged including victims of alleged unlawful arrest and detention probono. This has given rise to speculations that some of those involved in the cases on the other side may have taken advantage of the porous security situation in the state to get at him.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, CSP, Mike Abattam confirmed the development stating that investigation has commenced to unveil the culprits and bring them to book.
