Enugu State was, literally, turned to shreds, at the weekend, as unknown gunmen struck, killing three police officers, a former commissioner and two others.

Three policemen were shot dead at Agbani, headquarters of Nkanu West Local Council of the state.

The incident occurred at a roundabout, close to the Agbani Divisional Police Station, a short distance from the town’s main market.

It was learnt that the policemen were on a stop-and-search duty on that spot. And, when the assailants sighted them, they immediately opened fire, which brought down the three security operatives.

The killer gang continued to shoot sporadically into the air, as they fled the scene, scaring the residents and traders, many of who took to their heels, only to return to discover the victims’ lifeless bodies on the asphalted road.

A video of the incident obtained, yesterday, showed sympathisers wailing and lamenting the incessant attacks on the policemen serving in the state by the ‘unknown gunmen.’

An unidentified young man was heard in the video crying and saying that one of the victims was his brother.

Meanwhile, on Friday night, a former Commissioner for Rural Development in the state and erstwhile Chairman of Oji-River Local Council, Gabriel Onuzulike and his elder brother, were killed at their Nkpokolo-Achi hometown by gunmen.

They were said to be returning from a burial ceremony when they were pursued by the gunmen, who were said to have waylaid and pummelled bullets into them.

The State Police Command, yesterday, said two of the assailants, who came from neighbouring Anambra State, were intercepted and neutralised by a joint Police and Army team, following a distress call.

The state Police Spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, who gave an update on the Oji -River incident, in a statement, said: “Pending the receipt of a detailed report, kindly be informed that preliminary report reveals that two of the assailants, said to have infiltrated into Oji-River from neighbouring Anambra State community, in the evening of 18/11/2022, that attacked and murdered one Gabriel Onuzulike (identified as former Chairman of Oji-River Local Council and Commissioner in Enugu State Government) and his brother at Nkpokolo-Achi in Oji-River Local Council, were neutralised by a joint Police and Army team, who swiftly responded to a distress call on the incident, and intercepted the hoodlums at Inyi community of the same council, as they were escaping into Anambra State.

“The team recovered an AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with ammunition, while a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep belonging to the victims, a Toyota Camry car the assailants attempted to snatch from another victim, and a RAV4 Jeep they used for the heinous criminal operation, among other incriminating items, were also recovered.”

“Meanwhile, manhunt of the assailants, many of whom escaped into a nearby forest with severe degrees of gunshot wounds in the ensuing gun duel, as a result of the superior firepower of the joint team, is still ongoing. Further development will be communicated, please.”

The Guardian