There were heavy gunshots at the Police Area Command in Aba, Abia state
, Thursday, as motorists fled to safety.
The shooting which lasted for several hours led to the barricading of
all roads leading to the police Area command and the Correctional centre
in Aba.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that policemen from the Aba Area Command
went on rampage, beating motorists and destroying vehicles and tricycles
they could lay hands on.
Business owners shut their shops and scampered to safety as policemen
fired sporadic shots.
Soldiers also barricaded Asa road by Mosque Street and the main motor
Park area asking residents to raise their hands as they pass through the
area.
The Pound road area which leads to the High Court complex in Aba was not
spared as some lawyers could not access the complex.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that there was an intelligence report of an
impending attack on the Police Area Command.
When contacted, Abia Police PRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna said there was a minor
altercation between a policeman and some passengers which has been
brought under control.
“A police man that was traveling in a tricycle as a passenger was being
attacked by some people because the tricycle he was traveling on hit a
Sienna bus from behind.
“In the little altercation, they discovered he is a police man and
somebody assaulted him and others were gathering around him. Noticing
the situation, he had to call for rescue and our people went and rescued
him. That’s what happened. Everything is under control now.”
A top police official in Aba said; “Rumours of Aba being the next target
after Owerri have been all over the place. Everybody knows what this
place represents in Aba and no Aba man will want this place to fall
because here is the security base of Aba.
“The Correctional Centre is here, Police Area Command Aba is here,
Police Divisional Headquarters Aba is here, DSS office is here, High
Court and Magistrate Court are all close here. Police cannot watch all
these facilities burn. Police secure all residents not just the barracks
or the Correctional Centre alone. We won’t give any chance to
criminals.”