 The Ebonyi State Police Command on Friday in Abakaliki confirmed the killing of four policemen on a Stop-and-Search duty and two other yet-to-be identified civilians at the Nwofe Road along the Hilltop axis of Abakaliki town.
The command confirmed the killings in a statement released by Mr Joshua Ukandu (DSP) the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Friday in Abakaliki.
According to the statement, the slain police operatives were attacked by hoodlums suspected to be members of the Indigenious People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network (IPOB/ESN) at about 5 am on Friday while on official duty.
“The operatives of the Command who were posted to duty at hilltop stop and search/pin-down point along Nwofe Road, at the outskirts of Abakaliki, were attacked by armed hoodlums suspected to be IPOB/ESN members, who shot sporadically at the operatives.
“The operatives engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel, in the ensuing gun battle, the hoodlums scampered and abandoned a pump action rifle which was recovered.
” However, four (4) of the operatives paid the supreme price, while two (2) civilians were caught in the crossfire and killed.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi state police Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo, psc, swiftly dispatched tactical teams of the command to the scene, who are on the trail of the fleeing hoodlums.
“She is using this medium to call on the good citizens of the State to provide the command with valuable information that could help apprehend the fleeing hoodlums.
“She also assured that the command remains steadfastly dedicated to safeguarding lives and properties in the state,” the statement read.
