Two undercover policemen on a mission to arrest a wanted cult leader and armed robber have been attacked in Akwa Ibom State.
LEADERSHIP gathered yesterday in Uyo, the state capital that the two officers from Abak local government area divisional headquarters escaped instant lynching but received several machetes and missiles attack from the hoodlums.
The hoodlums allegedly raised the alarm that the wanted criminal, identified as Udo, had been kidnapped by the armed plain clothes officers with an unmarked vehicle.
“The two officers had gone to Ibong Ikot Akpan Abasi Village, Otoro Clan in Abak local government area to arrest a wanted criminal simply identified as Udo.
“The officers who went to effect the arrest in a private car, succeeded in carrying out the arrest of the suspect and were on their way back to the station, when their vehicle developed a fault.
“This prompted the wanted criminal to raise the alarm that he was being kidnapped by unknown persons. The alarm attracted youths of the community to mobilize, rescued him and then turned to attack the two officers with machetes and other offensive weapons.
“The severe attack was so brutal to the extent that despite the fact that they presented their identity cards, nobody could take them seriously because of their civilian outlook with their vehicle unmarked,” a local resident, who would not want his name in print, recalled.
“Therefore, it would be a miracle if they survived such bloody attack which left them with bruises all over their body before they were evacuated to the hospital after intervention from the paramount ruler of Abak, His Royal Majesty (HRM), Obong Saviour Udofia, he took them to the hospital for treatment,” he added.
Confirming the incident, the police authorities said the affected officers were responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
They vowed that no stone would be left unturned in fishing out the perpetrators and the other collaborators.
It was learnt that the state commissioner of police (CP), Mr Waheed Ayilara, has since ordered a high-powered investigation team to work with other security agencies to rearrests the wanted criminal kingpin and others involved in the attack. (Leadership)