Gunmen Kill  Imo Lawyer, Darlington Odume

Dan Opara

There was a heavy panic in Imo State yesterday, Thursday, Sept.16th, 2021, when news broke that fleeing gunmen suspected to be assailants had killed a lawyer, Barr. Darlington Odume.

 

Barr  Odume, until his sudden demise, was popularly known as Omekagu, and he was shot to death in a supermarket at Amaifeke in Orlu, in the Orlu LGA, Imo State.

 

The killing came just 24 hours after hoodlums murdered the priest-in-charge of St Andrew’s Anglican Church Ihitte-Ukwa in Orsu LGA, Rev.Emeka Merenu, who is now no more.

 

Odume, a native of Umudara village in Amaifeke- Orlu, was called to the Nigerian Bar Association, five years ago.

 

News from Our Reporter gathered that the slain lawyer, who had his Legal Chamber in Orlu town and was handling some of the cases of those arrested in connection with the violence rocking the area.

 

According to our news sources, the victim, who was rushed to a hospital in the Orlu area, but was rejected and referred to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, as he died on the way to the teaching hospital.

 

“They stormed a supermarket at Umudara Amaifeke, Orlu and shot him in the chest, and zoomed off.

 

“He was rushed to a hospital in the area, but they rejected him, referring them to the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, but he died along the way.

 

“Omekagu was handling some of the cases of those arrested and believed to be innocent due to the violence in Orlu. His wife is a Police officer.

 

“The entire community has been thrown into mourning. His wife is a serving Police officer. This is very unfortunate,” the source said.

 

The Interim Committee Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comr. Precious Nwadike, who hails from Orlu, confirmed the assassination of the lawyer to Our Reporter.

 

The journalist, who called on security operatives to fish out the killers, also called on the government to ensure that lives and property are secured.

 

The Imo Police spokesperson,  Michael Abattam, has confirmed the killing and added that the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, had ordered a holistic investigation into the incident.