Gunmen on Saturday night killed seven leaders in the Umucheke community in Okwe, in the Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State.
Residents reported that the gunmen attacked during a meeting at the home of the community’s president general, who was also among those killed.
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the murders on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Henry Okoye informed newsmen that Commissioner of Police Danjuma Aboki described the incident as very unfortunate and expressed the command’s sorrow over the tragic event.
An investigation has begun to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
This incident follows another attack last week, where gunmen ambushed and killed four policemen on stop-and-search duty in the Irete community along Onitsha Road in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
These attacks are the latest in a series of violent incidents targeting security personnel and civilians in Imo State and the South-East region, which has seen numerous attacks by non-state actors in recent years.