At least three police officers attached to the Abia State Police Command have been killed by yet-to-be identified gunmen.
It was gathered that the police officers serving at the Abiriba police division were killed in Abiriba in the Ohafia Local Government Area of the state on Monday.
Those killed were identified as Inspector Austin Ugwu, Inspector Longinus Ugochukwu and PC Ama Ifeanyi.
The officers were ambushed around 8.30 am by the gunmen who killed them and took away two of their riffles.
The incident comes barely a month after two police officers were killed by armed men who invaded a police station in Aba, Abia state.
The attackers also burnt all the operational vehicles parked within the premises of the police station.
Security operatives have been killed and police facilities destroyed by gunmen who cart away rifles in similar attacks in the South-East and South-South regions, giving the impression that the attacks may have been coordinated.
No fewer than six policemen, four naval officers, two prison warders have been killed in neighbouring Anambra state in the last two weeks.
he Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt Hon Ude Oko Chukwu has assured Abiriba Community in Ohafia LGA that the State Government will deploy all necessary resources available to it to ensure the protection of the people and all law abiding citizens.Sir Oko Chukwu gave the assurance after visiting the community following an attack on policemen on duty in the community by yet to be identified hoodlums which led to the death of three officers and palpable fear of possible reprisal by security agents.
Speaking to the people at Orie Akwa square in the community, Sir Oko Chukwu who was accompanied on the visit by the state commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu and the Chairman of Ohafia LGA, Dr Okoroafor Ukiwe, called for community vigilance and support to security agents to ensure that the perpetrators are quickly identified and brought to justice.
He said, “the government is saddened by the unfortunate attack of this morning which led to the loss of lives of police officers at Agu Eze check point and my boss, Governor Ikpeazu on receiving the news asked me to come here and assure you that we will do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act and protect Ndi Abiriba and all law abiding people in the state.
Sir Oko Chukwu who earlier visited the crime scene and divisional police office in Abiriba sympathized with the families and friends of the officers who lost their lives in the attacks and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.He also visited traditional rulers of the community and assured them of Government’s support to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
He advised that a proper community vigilante and information gathering mechanism be put in place to ensure prevention of further crimes. Responding, the Enachioken in Council which spoke through Eze Eme Uguru Ikpoka assured that the community will fully cooperate with security agencies to protect the people and prevent the perpetrators from escaping justice.
He called on the government to prevail on security agents not to engage in mass arrests but skillfully investigate the matter and assured that the community has dispatched hunters and youths into the surrounding forests to track down the hoodlums.Our corespondent reports that officers of the Abiriba Division of Nigeria Police Force who arrived Agu Eze Amaogudu, Abiriba, at about 8.3am on Monday were ambushed by yet to be identified hoodlums who killed 3 of the officers and carted away two riffles from them.
