The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ife/Akpodim/Chokoneze Ward in Ezinihitte Mbaise local government area of Imo State, Hon. Smith Chiedoziem Anyanwu has been assassinated by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

Anyanwu was gunned down on Thursday evening in the presence of his wife by two gunmen at his country home in Ezinihitte Mbaise.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said the gunmen arrived Anyanwu’s residence on a motorbike and enquired about him.

He said: “The two men rode in on a bike and asked his wife about her husband’s whereabouts, and she pointed towards the compound. They just went there and shot him point-blank, waited for some seconds before zooming off.”

“The first gunshot had scared away passers-by, so they had no resistance to escape. The problem now is that people have deserted the community for fear of more attacks,” the source added.

The development has led to serious tension in the area.

The police is yet to issue any statement on the incident.