The Anambra State Police Command has launched a manhunt for some yet-to-be-identified assailants who were said to have come from a neighbouring state to kill two police personnel.
It was gathered that the incident happened at Uga Roundabout in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State late on Thursday.
An eyewitness said, “It was a rain of bullets at Uga Roundabout, Aguata LGA on Thursday, December 28 as some hoodlums came in their numbers from the Umuchu-Umunze Road, all carrying AK-47, kidnapping people at random.
“They were not in a hurry to go as they remained for long unchallenged. When they sighted a group of policemen coming up from the Ezinifite axis, they opened fire and gunned down two of them.
The Anambra State police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Friday.
Ikenga said the hoodlums, who disguised in military fatigue and seemed to be on a kidnap mission, opened fire on some police officers who were on a convoy.
He said, “Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt for armed insurgents who infiltrated from a neighbouring state and killed two police personnel on December 28, 2023, at about 6.30 pm.
“The gang which was disguised in military fatigue and seemed to be on a kidnap mission was jolted on seeing two armed police officers approaching their direction.
“They opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the convoy they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock. Other personnel returned fire, careful not to hit many motorists who were in traffic, forcing the bandits to flee.”
He added that the police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on patrol of the area throughout the Christmas period moved to the scene.
According to him, the police recovered a Lexus SUV the gang operated with and defused an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all officers and men in the command commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.
“He urged them not to be demoralised by the supreme price paid by their colleagues from Enugu State Command but to draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.
“He condoled with the families of the deceased officers and Enugu State Police Command and vowed that the personnel will not die in vain,” the statement added. (Punch)