Policeman, hoodlum killed in foiled Ebonyi police station attack

During the gun duel that ensued between the policemen and the hoodlums, it was gathered that an inspector attached to the division also lost his life.

A community source told Pointblanknews.com that the hoodlums were all masked, adding that they attacked the police station around 2am.

The source said, “They killed a police inspector, and the police killed one of them. Nobody knows the route they came through. All we heard were gunshots for about 10 minutes. At the moment, there is no information on what they destroyed or if they stole anything from the police station.

“The gunmen were all masked, but the one killed had his face unveiled by the police to ascertain his identity. He also had a red cloth tied around his waist, believed to be a charm.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Loveth Odah, in a statement, confirmed the incident, adding that the police recovered two AK-47 rifles from the hoodlums.

The statement said, “At about 3am today, 24th October, 2021, yet-to-be-identified gunmen, suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN, numbering about 35, attacked Unwana divisional headquarters in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, shooting sporadically at the policemen on duty, who immediately repelled the attackers.

“In the gun battle that ensued, one of the hoodlums was killed and two AK-47 rifles and other incriminating items were recovered, while others escaped with bullet injuries.

“Regrettably, one police inspector attached to the division was fatally wounded, while one other, who was critically injured, is responding to treatment in a hospital. The police facility and operational vehicles are intact.

“Investigation revealed that the deceased had been on the police wanted list for various attacks on police stations. One of the recovered AK-47 rifles has been identified to be the rifle stolen from the Ohaukwu Police Division early this month.”

Odah said the state Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, had ordered a manhunt for the fleeing hoodlums.