Several shoppers were reportedly wounded in a melee resulting from the attack on the shopping complex mall (House of Freeda) belonging to the daughter of immediate past Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Thursday.
The armed youth were said to be the ones attached to the Imo State Committee on Recovery of Government Property in search of government property.
Property and merchandise said to belong to the state government were carted away.
No fewer than six workers in the complex were severely injured during the invasion said to have been supervised by the chairman of the committee, Hon. Jasper Ndubuaku.
According to eyewitnesses, the fierce-looking youth, reportedly aided by armed Policemen, forced their way into the complex that houses several businesses owned by individuals not related to the former governor and started carting away electronic appliances and other expensive items that were displayed for sale.
One of the sales representatives who did not want his name in prints, alleged that the rampaging thugs also made away with N12.5 million cash.
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One of the vehicles belonging to the Reach FM, a radio station suspected to be owned by a member of the Okorocha’s family was impounded and the driver beaten to stupor.
It took the intervention of a detachment of Policemen and soldiers to disperse the youths but the vehicles loaded with the items were driven away.
The Committee had during a press conference on Wednesday alleged that the former governor and his family made away with 67 vehicles belonging to the state government.
However, in his reaction, the Media Adviser to the governor, Steve Osuji, said that the Committee acted on a tip-off from a whistleblower who hinted them that government vehicles and other items were parked in the complex.
According to him, the Committee members who were on official duty were attacked by thugs hired by the owners of the complex, in an attempt to prevent them from carrying out their legitimate assignment.
Hon. Ndubaku could not be reached via telephone as at the time of filing this report.
