Robbers kill policeman, injure another, escape with police rifle

Hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers reportedly carried out a bloody attack on Tuesday against some police officers, leading to the death of a police sergeant, and severe injury of another officer.

The attack which came unexpectedly at about 8.30p.m, under the fly-over at New Auto spare-parts Market, Nkpor, near Onitsha, along the Enugu/Onitsha Expressway, claimed the life of a police sergeant, while another officer sustained a gunshot wound.

According to a reliable source, the gang of alleged armed robbers numbering about nine and operating on motorcycles suddenly opened fire on the policemen, killing the police sergeant instantly, carting away his AK-47 riffle and inflicting bullet wound on his colleague.

The policemen were said to have been keeping surveillance under the fly-over when the incident occurred.

According to the source, the robbers had on arrival at the scene, positioned themselves at strategic places without the knowledge of the policemen who were stationed on the sand bags packed within the vicinity, before they eventually launched the offensive on them.

It was gathered that the deceased policeman who was identified as Sergeant Mathew Julius, was standing beside their vehicle along with his colleague when the robbers drew close and fired shots at them. The sergeant died instantly, while the other policeman whose leg was shattered during the gunfire, dived into a deep side-drainage and hid himself, until the robbers left.

Out of the three policemen on duty, one died, one injured and the other escaped unhurt.

However, police sources which spoke on the incident on anonymous condition, told newsmen on phone that the police team attacked by the robbers were on an illegal duty at Nkpor. The team was said to have been officially assigned to Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO at Ogidi Police Division, Hassan Musa who simply confirmed the incident without giving details, said the body of the deceased policeman had been deposited at a nearby hospital, while his injured colleague was rushed to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Mission Hospital, Onitsha where he is currently receiving medical attention.

As at the time of filing this report, Musa also noted that his men were still at the scene of the incident, adding that investigations were on-going to arrest the fleeing robbers.

Reacting to the ugly incident, an Idemili based legal practitioner, Barr Pat Agbata described the attack as wicked, adding that the police should be adequately equipped and should also work in synergy with the local vigilante security operatives.

Also in a reaction, the National Publicity Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy, CD, Dede Uzor A. Uzor, who described the incident as very unfortunate, lamented that violent crimes were gradually rearing its ugly head again in Anambra state.

Uzor recalled that robbers had in recent times, attacked a bank at Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA and another bank at Okija, Ihiala LGA, while some ransom kidnappers abducted some victims in various parts of the state which is currently adjudged as the safest in the country.