Mohammed Shosanya
Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt for armed men who killed two policemen escorts in Uga, Aguata council area of Anambra State on Thursday December 28.
The Police men were said to be attached to a prominent politician in the community who was returning him for Christmas celebrations.
Police Public Relations Officer Ikenga Tochukwu a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a statement said the armed men infiltrated from a neighbouring State.
The incident occured at about 6.30 p.m.
According to the statement, “the armed gang which disguised in military fatigue and seemed to be on a kidnap mission were 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”.
The statement added that Police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas Celebrations promptly responded to the scene and recovered a Lexus SUV the gang operated with and defused an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle.
They also recovered an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain personnel.
An eye witness,who identified the politician being escorted by the two Police men narrated the incident thus: “We witnessed what happened. Chris Uba’s convoy ran into the men who were stationed at Uga junction, leading to a shoot out.
“Uba was able to escape because he was riding in a bullet proof vehicle, but the policemen were not so lucky as they were killed.
“Val Ozigbo,(another prominent politician from the area) was coming back from Owerri with members of his family when he suddenly saw a convoy driving ferociously toward his own convoy, and attempting to edge him off the road. He quickly told his drivers to clear off the road so as to let the other convoy pass by.
“Shortly after they overtook Ozigbo, they ran into the gunmen at Uga junction who started shooting, and killed two police men. Ozigbo who parked while the incident was happening, later learnt that the convoy that was attacked was that of Uba.”
The Commissioner of Police, Mr.Aderemi Adeoye who had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for all Officers and men in the Command, however, commended all personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State.
He urged them not to be demoralized by the supreme price paid by their colleagues from Enugu State Command but to draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.
Adeoye also condoled with the families of the deceased officers and Enugu State Police Command and vowed that the personnel will not die in vain.
He urged all officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant. He assured that technology would be employed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on Police personnel.
The Commissioner of Police implored the people of Anambra State not to allow the incident to create fear in their minds but to continue with various activities they had slated for the yuletide season#
