By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Police command has repelled attack by gunmen who attacked some personnel while on duty along Enugu/Abakaliki high way. One of the hoodlums was said to have been killed during the process.

A statement by the spokesman of the command, SP Chris Anyawu, said the hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN were heading towards the direction of Enugu and on coming across the police patrol team, who were on stop-and-search operation along Enugu Road, fired gun-shots sporadically at them with the aim of killing and taking up their arms.

The statement reads in part: “At about 1530hrs of date (17/08/2022), a team of patrolmen attached to B’Division, Kpirikpiri, Abakaliki were attacked while on stop-and-search operation along Enugu Road, by a gang of hoodlums operating in a SIENA space bus and a power bike.

“The hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN were heading towards the direction of Enugu and on coming across the police patrol team, fired gun-shots sporadically at them with the aim of killing and taking up their arms.”

According to the statement, “Luckily, the men who were at alert and well-positioned, promptly rose to the occasion and fired back at the hoodlums.

“One of them yet to be identified, was demobilized and arrested while several others escaped with bullet wounds. The arrested one was taken to federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (FETHA 2), where he later gave up the ghost.

“The following items were recovered from the deceased hoodlum, one cut-to-size AK 47 rifle, one matchet, charms, a pocket Bible with charms pinned at the book of Psalms, Chapter 91.

“Two police men who sustained injuries are responding to treatment.

“The escaping hoodlums are being trailed by operatives of the Command.

“Further developments will be made public in due course.”

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