Three persons , including an escapee from the Owerri Correctional Centre were feared dead yesterday when soldiers clashed with bunkers in Izombe area of Imo state.
Two of those who allegedly lost their lives are believed to be soldiers.
The incident occurred on Friday in Umu okwe, Aboshi, Izombe in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
Armadanews learnt that trouble started at about 12:30 pm, and created serious tension within the Izombe community and neighbouring communities.
The clash also claimed the life of one of the members of the community whose name was given as Obele, believed to be one of the 1,800 inmates who were forcefully released from the Owerri correctional centre early this year by gunmen.
This newspaper was told that trouble started when some boys identified to be into oil theft had an encounter with the soldiers from where it allegedly resulted to burning of vehicles and houses.
Stories surrounding the incident, according to a source from the community said: “Those boys are not happy the soldiers want to stop them from doing their business of oil bunkering. So, some of them now clashed with the soldiers and killed about two of the soldiers and burnt their vehicles.”
He continued: “These soldiers now called their men. They came to attack the boys and we started seeing burning of vehicles and houses. For now, this is what has happened and everybody is in fear. Many of us have jumped out from our houses and hid somewhere to avoid the attack.”
At the time of filing this report, the Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abattam, confirmed there was an incident in the area but said he was not with the details and the Police will carry out an investigation to find out what happened.”
However, another top shot in the police confirmed to our correspondent that “the situation is under control for now.”
Meanwhile military authorities in Imo State have vowed to ensure that criminality will not be allowed to thrive in the areas under their supervision.