Vigilante Shoots Colleague Dead After Heated Argument

Panic gripped Umuezeala-Ama Autonomous Community in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State on Wednesday evening when a vigilante operative allegedly shot and killed his colleague during a disagreement while on duty.

Eyewitnesses said the two men, who were close associates within the local security team, engaged in a heated argument over how to handle a suspect.

The altercation quickly turned violent, with one of them pulling the trigger and shooting his colleague at close range.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, recounted: “They were on patrol together when the disagreement started. It got so bad that one of them fired his gun. The victim died instantly. People ran away in fear because no one expected it to end that way.”

The tragic development caused confusion across the community, prompting elders and other vigilante members to alert the Police.

The suspect was immediately apprehended and handed over to law enforcement officers from the Ehime Mbano Divisional Police Headquarters.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, said the suspect was in custody and that an investigation had commenced.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, has ordered a discreet probe into the incident to uncover what led to the fatal shooting. The suspect will be charged to court once investigations are concluded,” Okoye stated.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at a nearby mortuary, while community leaders have appealed for calm and urged the Police to ensure that justice is served.

Residents described the deceased as a loyal and committed vigilante member who played an active role in safeguarding the community from criminal elements.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for improved training and psychological evaluation of vigilante operatives across Imo State to prevent further tragedies.