By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Police Command on Sunday said it killed two gunmen over the weekend in different operations at Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists in Awka by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga.

According to Ikenga, four automatic pump actions, four vehicles, four motorcycles, and other items were recovered from the suspects.

He said that Police operatives in the state had intensified and improved operational positioning to respond to distress calls.

He said: “Anambra State Security Forces comprising of the Military and Police, neutralized two gunmen, recovered four automatic pump action, one cutlass, one ash coloured Lexus jeep 350 with registration number KJA-666HE, one white Toyota Hilux jeep without registration number; one white Toyota Corolla with registration number: HAL-732RF, one sliver Highlander jeep without registration number and four motorcycles without registration number.

“The recovery followed a distress call at about 9:30am on 23/7/2022 (Saturday) along Onitsha/Owerri expressway junction leading to Okija Nkwo Market , where some hoodlums blocked the road and were robbing/extorting motorists.

“The Joint Forces responded swiftly and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel; neutralised one of the armed men while others escaped the scene with bullet wounds.

“In another development, Police operatives, at about 3:30pm on same date, while on clearance operation, sighted another criminal gang at Nkwo Market, Okija, harassing sellers/buyers and residents in the area. The Operatives engaged the armed men in a gun duel. One of the suspects was neutralised and two automatic pump action and one machete recovered while others fled the scene.

“No casualty on part of the operatives and the situation has been brought under control. Meanwhile, Operation is still ongoing to apprehend the other fleeing gang members.”

The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Echeng Echeng, while charging the operatives to sustain the onslaught against criminal elements, ordered that patrols be intensified as well as improved operational positioning to respond to distress calls in the state.”