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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The Ebonyi Police Command has confirmed that its operatives killed two hoodlums, who were allegedly enforcing a sit-at-home order, in the state.
The hoodlums were said to have shot sporadically into the air within the Okposi Court Area in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, on Monday, when operatives of the command engaged them in a gun duel.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, in a statement, yesterday, said their men gunned down one of the hoodlums in the ensuing shootout.
The statement read: “On the 10/07/2023, at about 1350hrs, some armed men suspected to be IPOB/ESN members went to Okposi in Ohaozara LGA and started shooting sporadically into the air.
“On receipt of the information, the operatives of the command immediately swung into action by giving the hoodlums a hot chase. The hoodlums engaged the policemen in a gun duel, which resulted in one of them being neutralised, while the others escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds.
“Exhibits recovered are one blue Toyota Highlander SUV riddled with bullets; one pump action gun; five live cartridges; four handsets (phones); one Sumec Firman generator; charms; nine expended shells of AK 47 rifle ammunition, among others.”
The police said their operatives, in the early hours of yesterday, continued combing the bushes where other fleeing suspects were arrested with bullet wounds.
“They are Emmanuel Edwin ‘m’ and Chigozie Udeh ‘m’, while one other was arrested unconscious with bullet injuries, but later gave up the ghost on the way to the hospital and was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, Augustina Ogbodo, is using this medium to warn criminals to either lay down their arms or relocate from the state, as it will no longer be a safe haven for them and, also, urged the good people of Ebonyi State to go about their lawful activities, as maximum security measures have been emplaced, including intensive motorised patrol of the entire state, to halt their activities,” the statement concluded.
