The Enugu State Police Command has arrested thirteen suspects and recovered one locally made gun at Akpakume community of Udi local government area over alleged attack on its operatives.
Spokesman of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe disclosed that the operatives had gone to effect the arrest of suspects in connection with a case of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and cultism when the suspects and their cohorts, who laid an ambush, suddenly opened fire on the Police team, injuring some of the officers.
Ndukwe stated that the operatives, however, swiftly responded with superior firepower, forcing many of the suspects to flee with varying degrees of severe gunshot injuries.
He disclosed that the suspects’ gunfire also shattered the light of the Police operational vehicle and damaged other vehicles in the area.
Ndukwe added that the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Giwa has led a team of senior officers to Akpakume community for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the suspects and others now on the run.
“It was observed that the hoodlums had willfully destroyed houses, shops, and other properties, including crops and livestock belonging to members of the community.
‘Preliminary investigation has uncovered that the criminal acts are in furtherance of an existing intra-communal crisis in the area,” he said.
According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner urged law-abiding residents to remain calm and continue to go about their lawful businesses.
He also charged the operatives to intensify the ongoing manhunt for the fleeing assailants, assuring that the Command will stop at nothing to ensure that all those involved in the attack and other related criminal activities in the area were brought to justice.
