[News] Gunmen kill retired police officer and his wife in Imo

Gunmen suspected to be robbers have killed a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sampson Owobo and his wife, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The incident happened around 8 pm on Sunday, August 20, 2023, beside the Chisco Transport company office, very close to the Owerri Area police command office along Egbu Road-Owerri.

An eyewitness said that the three gunmen who operated in a vehicle were trying to dispossess the couple who run a Point Of Sale business, of their bag containing the unidentified amount of money.

The couple resisted them and they shot the retired ASP at close range on his forehead. His wife was also shot at her left-hand side, close to her chest at a close range.

While Mr. Owobo died on the spot, his wife was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, by policemen where she was pronounced dead.

“Three armed men just killed a husband and his wife. This incident happened close to the Chisco Transport company office which is very close to Owerri Police Area command headquarters and Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters, at the fire Service on Egbu Road-Owerri,” the witness narrated.

“The armed robbers were carrying pump action rifles and were trying to carry a bag containing money. The husband and wife run a POS business and also sell loaves of bread. When they could not succeed in carrying the bag of money, they shot the couple at close ranges.

“They shot the man at close range at his forehead, close to his eyes. They shot his wife at close range too, at her left-hand side, very close to her chest. While the man died immediately, his wife who was bleeding profusely was pronounced dead at FMC-Owerri

“The man’s name is Sampson Owobo. He hailed from Edo State. He is a retired police officer. He retired with the rank of ASP. He retired about five years ago or so

“The armed robbers fled and haven’t been caught. This is so bad. This crime happened very close to the Owerri fire service police area command headquarters and the Owerri Urban Police Divisional headquarters.”

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the murder of the couple and disclosed that the police in the state were on the trail of the fleeing suspects.