Follow Us on Google
From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
Gunmen have killed two mobile police operatives of the Imo State Command, who were on a checkpoint duty in the early hours of yesterday.
The incident, which occurred around Akabor in the Ikeduru council area of the state, has heightened tensions around the community.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Aboki Danjuma, vows to track down the killers. The Spokesperson of the state police command, Mr. Henry Okoye (ASP), who confirmed the unfortunate incident in a statement, said the state police commissioner has already deployed the Command’s Special Tactical Squad to the area.
He said: “ The tragic incident was perpetrated In the early hours of today (Tuesday) by hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who attacked the operatives in their numbers, firing sporadically. The operatives fought gallantly, but, unfortunately, two personnel and a civilian were fatally hit.
“In the wake of the tragic incident, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, Aboki Danjuma, alongside the DC, Operations, led police operatives to the scene of the crime for on-the-spot assessment of the incident. Intense operation is ongoing in the area for possible apprehension and prosecution of the fleeing hoodlums responsible for the senseless act of violence”.
He added: “CP Aboki Danjuma has deployed the command’s special tactical squad and equipped them with the available operational resources and intelligence to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and clamp down on the hoodlums responsible for the unprovoked and unwarranted attack and killing of police mobile operatives conducting stop-and-search at Akabor in Ikeduru LGA of Imo State. Meanwhile, the lifeless bodies of the affected officers and a civilian have been recovered and deposited in a mortuary for preservation.”
While commiserating with the affected families on the death of their loved ones, the commissioner of police assured them that no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the culprits are brought to book.
“The command, therefore, calls on all and sundry, who may have any useful information that will assist in the ongoing investigation to bring the culprit to book to kindly report at the nearest police station or via the command’s emergency lines 08034773600 or 08098880197.”
