The Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt over some yet-to-be-identified armed assailants who were said to have come from a neighbouring state to kill two police personnel.
The hoodlums killed the policemen at Uga Roundabout, in Aguata, late on Thursday, when they opened fire on them as the officers moved ahead of a convoy to decongest a traffic gridlock in the community.
Saturday PUNCH gathered that the gunmen also targeted a convoy suspected to belong to that of Anambra politician, Chris Uba, and a chieftain of the Labour Party, Mr Val Ozigbo, who were in the traffic.
The Anambra state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.
“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 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,” Ikenga said.
Meanwhile, a socio-political youth group, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, in a statement signed by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, on Friday, strongly condemned the attack.
The statement partly read, “It is worrisome that such a deadly attack could be executed during the Christmas period, a time highly respected and revered by Christians all over the world. This is a big slap and we will not take it lying low.
“Those hoodlums must be arrested and prosecuted immediately. This sad attack happened because the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who is the Chief Security Officer of the state failed woefully to provide security which is the primary responsibility of the government to the people. What is he doing with all the money he collects for security votes? Nothing!”
