Follow Us on Google
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
It was a case of the hunter being the hunted as a gallant Police Inspector attached to one of the formations in the Imo State shot and killed two gunmen who returned with their gang to Umuafom, Orogwe community in Owerri West Local Government Area in Imo State to continue their attack on their targets in the area, on Wednesday.
A reliable source from the troubled community told Daily Sun that the gunmen who, after killing seven security guards and wounding six others on Monday, returned on Wednesday, but, according to the source, they ran out of luck as two members of their gang were gunned down by the police officer.
The hoodlums, as the source further disclosed, had succeeded in breaking into the officer’s apartment when he opened fire on them, killing one instantly, while others fled with bullet wounds into a nearby bush when they sighted a detachment from the divisional police in the area arrived at the scene.
Subsequently, with the help of the backup from the area divisional police that arrived, the surrounding bushes were combed and another hoodlum, who escaped with a bullet wound, was found dead.
The State Police spokesperson, Michael Abattam, confirmed the incident thus: “The bandits destroyed the iron burglary protector and front door, entered inside the flat, but were taken by surprise as the police inspector, who professionally placed himself at a vantage position and engaged the bandits in an aggressive gun duel.
“The hoodlums, who were stunned and confused by the staccato sound emanating from the rifle of the police officer, took to their heels, scampering for safety and were given a hot chase and, in the process, one of them was neutralised at the spot and others escaped into the surrounding bushes fatally injured.”
Meanwhile, Abattam disclosed that after combing the bush, two locally made pistols and an identity card were recovered. The recovered identity card, he said, belonged to one of the neutralised bandits in the name of Chukwuemezie Chukwu, a native of Atta in Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State and an electrician.
The same hoodlum had allegedly killed seven security guards in the same area, on Monday.
