Operatives of Enugu State Police Command have arrested three suspected masterminds of last Friday’s murder of two police officers and three members of Neighbourhood Watch at Igga community in Uzo-Uwani local government area.
The police officers and members of the Neighbourhood Watch who provided security for a team which visited the council were ambushed and attacked by criminal elements, who opened fire on them.
The command’s spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “Upon the unprovoked sudden attack, members of the team scampered for safety, while an assistant superintendent of police (ASP), who led the team, one Neighbourhood Watch personnel, and the three-member team of investors were later rescued by a policemen team that mobilised to the crime scene.”
Ndukwe said in the course of investigation and manhunt operation, three males suspected to have masterminded the attack were arrested.
He said their revelations during interrogation led to the discovery and recovery of the slain policemen and Neighbourhood Watch Group members in the forest last Saturday.
In a statement he issued yesterday, Ndukwe said, “Their lifeless bodies were taken to the hospital, confirmed dead by doctors, and deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
He said the Enugu State commissioner of police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, who described the act as “inconceivable, dastardly, and unwarranted,” had ordered the deployment of more personnel to the area. The CP also cautioned against the spread of unverified videos.
He said, “Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has described the unprovoked criminal act of the gruesome murder of the personnel as inconceivable, dastardly, and unwarranted. Hence, he orders further deployment of the command’s intelligence and operational resources to sustain the manhunt of the fleeing criminals, stressing that the police will stop at nothing to fish out and bring the perpetrators of the senseless act to book.
“Furthermore, the CP has cautioned those who, in an attempt to misinform and mislead unsuspecting members of the public, are circulating unverified videos alleging the burning and looting of houses in the community by joint forces to desist forthwith.
“The commissioner has also advised members of the Igga community, particularly the criminal elements directly involved in the unthinkable and wanton act of murdering serving police officers and others, to voluntarily surrender themselves to the police without delay,” Ndukwe said.
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