Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three persons including two police officers and a civilian by a gang of criminals in Anambra State.
The gang was said to have laid an ambush for a 6-man police team and a civilian car tracker who were on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched on gun point penultimate weekend in Oye-Agu Abagana, Anambra State.
Four of the police operatives escaped the ambush, while two of the operatives and the car tracker were captured by the criminals.
A statement made available to Ikengaonline by the Command PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the force launched a counter offensive operation, Friday, against the criminal elements in their hideouts at Amukabia, Achalla, Awka south LGA, Anambra State.
According to the statement, the police recovered a human skull, one locally made rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, two RPG bombs and one single- barrel long gun.
Other items recovered were empty chain of bullet, one Toyota Sienna, one Mercedes Benz Formatic jeep, two cylinders a huge quantity of hard drugs and other items, including a police beret and a police belt in the criminal’s den.
The statement read: “the operatives, during the counter offensive operation, neutralized some of the armed men and destroyed three of their camps.
“Unfortunately, some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds, having already murdered their captives and set their bodies ablaze.
“The remains of the two murdered police officers and the civilian tracker have been recovered and deposited in a morgue, while police operation is still ongoing in the area to track the fleeing gang members.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, CP Echeng Echeng, while condoling the families and friends of the murdered civilian and the police operatives, described the incident as “a classic example of the risk and sacrifices the police are exposed to in the onerous task of serving and protecting the country.”
He also assured the people that efforts are in top gear towards total reclamation of all the public spaces occupied by hoodlums in the State. He also promised to apprehend and bring the hoodlums and their accomplices to justice.
