Gunmen, whose identities remain unknown, attacked a police checkpoint near Owerri, Imo State early Tuesday morning, leading to the fatalities of both police officers and an innocent passerby.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants arrived at the checkpoint, positioned along Okigwe Road in Ikeduru LGA, in a convoy of three vehicles around 6:30 a.m.
“They came in three vehicles to the checkpoint and suddenly opened fire, killing two policemen on the spot. On hearing the sporadic gunshots, I quickly scampered for safety for my dear life,” said the witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear.
A witness, who had gone out to purchase bread for breakfast for the children, recounted that a stray bullet from the gunfire exchanged by the gunmen resulted in the death of a male passerby.
However, the witness also noted that other police officers returned fire, compelling the assailants to withdraw.
Confirming the incident, ASP Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the Imo Police Command, stated that Police Commissioner Aboki Danjuma had instructed a search operation to track down the gunmen.
“The CP has deployed the command’s Special Tactical Squad and equipped them with 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 killings. The operatives fought gallantly but unfortunately, two personnel and a civilian were fatally hit,” the police officer said.
Okoye said the commissioner and some command operatives later visited the crime scene for assessment.
“As we speak, intense operation is ongoing in the area for possible apprehension and prosecution of the fleeing hoodlums responsible for the senseless act of violence. More so, the CP has set up a high-powered investigation team and tasked them to carry out a comprehensive investigation to unravel perpetrators of the attack,” he added.
He said the bodies of the affected officers and the civilian had been recovered and deposited in a mortuary for preservation.
The command’s spokesman commiserated with families of the dead and assured that the command would leave no stone unturned to ensure the hoodlums were arrested and prosecuted.
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