Anthony Iwuoma
Again, unknown gunmen, on Sunday, struck in Anambra State, killing a police Inspector and two other persons at a roadblock in Onitsha area of the state.
It was said that the police operatives were on a stop-and-search operation when they were attacked by the yet-to-be identified assailants.
It was gathered that two other persons, a tricycle (Keke) operator and a passerby, reportedly going to church, died in the attack while others, including some of the police officers on duty were severely wounded. Also, the police patrol van was razed in the attack.
In a statement, the state’s Police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, disclosed that the attackers drove in an ash coloured Toyota Sienna vehicle and suddenly opened fire on the officers on duty.
He said, “Unfortunately, during the exchange of gunfire, one police Inspector paid the supreme price and some sustained gunshot injuries. In a bid to escape the police responding team, they set the patrol vehicle ablaze.”
The spokesman added that the state’s Police Command had begun combing the Onitsha axis to identify and arrest the assailants.
Tochukwu said the Command was not discouraged by the incident, “but are more committed in delivering in their mandate on the protection of lives and properties.”