Two police officers on investigation operation in the Uruagu area of Nnewi, Nnewi -North local government area of Anambra State, have been killed by a gang of criminals.
The two unfortunate police officers were among a team of policemen who were deployed to the area in the early hours of today (Thursday) by the Anambra State commissioner of police, CP Nnaghe Itam, to investigate a crime in the area.
The public relations officer of the state police command (PPRO) superintendent of police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said that a gang of hoodlums had laid ambush on the police investigation team.
He said that the hoodlums, on sighting the police team, started shooting sporadically and threw an improvised explosive into the operational vehicle of the police team.
Mr Ikenga said that the two policemen were killed in the process while their operational vehicle went up in flames.
The Anambra state police spokesperson said that CP Itam had already deployed a team of police operatives to hunt down the fleeing gang of criminals and urged members of the public, especially eyewitnesses to the attack, to assist the command with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of the hoodlums.
SP Ikenga, in his statement, said, “Joint Security Force, begins Manhut Operation on armed men who murdered two police operatives on investigation activities in the early hours of today 3/10/2024 at Uruagu, Nnewi North.
“Preliminary information reveals that the armed men started shooting sporadically on sighting the police operatives and threw an Improvised explosive into their operational vehicle.
“ Unfortunately, two of the operatives paid the supreme price while the vehicle caught fire.
“Given the above, the Command calls on members of the public, especially the eyewitnesses and other sundries, to aid the ongoing Police operations in the area. You can call the Command Control Room at *07039194332* or the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) at *08039334002* for any necessary assistance and be assured the utmost confidentiality in this regard”, SP Ikenga.