By Abia Onyike
No fewer than three policemen have been killed by gunmen in Ebonyi State, Punch Metro has learnt. This is coming 24 hours after hoodlums shot dead a Police Inspector at the popular Union Bank Roundabout in the Abakaliki metropolis, an incident that left two other officers sustaining varying degrees of bullet wounds.
In the ensuing attack, it was gathered that the gunmen attacked and gunned down the policemen who were on a stop-and-search duty at Oshiri community, in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state at 8.30am, on Wednesday. After the incident, it was further learnt that tactical operatives of the Ebonyi State Police Command were drafted to the area and in a reprisal, killed two of the hoodlums.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident, on Wednesday.
She said, “Today being 24/05/2023 at about 0830hrs, operatives of the Command on Stop-and-Search duty at Oshiri Division were attacked by armed hoodlums.”Sadly, three Policemen lost their lives, one was injured and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital. Tactical teams were immediately drafted to the area to go after the hoodlums. Consequently, two of the hoodlums were neutralised and others escaped with bullet wounds
Recovered from them are:
1.one Lexus car ES350 Model; one fabricated AK 47 rifle; one AK 47 magazine with 7 rounds of ammunition; one SMG rifle; one SMG magazine with 8 rounds of ammunition; a pack of hard drugs (SK); charms, juju drums; and charka musical instrument for shrine.”
It will be recalled that recently, the Ebonyi State Police Command lost one of its staff to unknown gunmen at the Abakaliki metropolis on Monday during a stop and search operation. With the gradual ending of political activities after the general elections, Ebonyi State appears to be witnessing a gradual rise in criminality.
