CurrentReport Blog In a devastating incident that shook Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Five police operatives fell victim to a vicious attack at a checkpoint near Ebyia Bridge along Hilltop/Nwoke Road. The assault, which occurred around 5 a.m. on Friday, also claimed the lives of two innocent women caught in the crossfire.
This marks the second assault on the same checkpoint, with the previous attack last year resulting in two fatalities. The targeted checkpoint serves as a crucial entry point into the city and lies in proximity to a gas station and Governor Francis Nwifuru’s residence.
According to Joshua Ụkandu, the police spokesperson in Ebonyi State, the operatives were conducting routine stop-and-search duties when they came under fire from suspected members of the Eastern Security Network, associated with the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The assailants unleashed a hail of bullets, engaging the officers in a fierce shootout.
“In the ensuing gun battle, the hoodlums scampered and abandoned a pump-action rifle, which was recovered. However, four of the operatives paid the supreme price, while two civilians were caught in the crossfire and killed,” Mr. Ụkandu confirmed in a statement.
In response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Augustina Ogbodo, swiftly dispatched tactical teams to the scene and initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators. Urging citizens to provide valuable information to aid in apprehending the fleeing culprits, she reassured the public of the police force’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property in the state.
