AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
DESPITE the launching of Community Policing by the Inspector-General of Police and the inauguration of state committees by Governor David Umahi, hoodlums have killed two policemen and injured four in Ebonyi State.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Loveth Odah, who disclosed this, said a Police Inspector attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command, Egu Omini also lost his life in the violence unleashed on the state.
She said this just as she revealed that the Inspector’s manhood was cut off and his AK-47 rifle snatched during the attack.
She added that Paul Akpu also died on admission at Alex-Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (A-E FETHA), from injuries sustained during the invasion of the Central Police Station, Abakaliki.
Odah also confirmed that seven police stations had been burnt in the state.
She listed the stations to include: Kpirikpiri, Ekumenyi, Central Police Station, Ohaozara, Okposi, a newly built Okposi Divisional Police Headquarters, yet to be commissioned; and Ezza North Divisional Headquarters.
However, six suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.
They include Ogodo Echezona, Nwanikwo Ogbonna, Ukoro Leonard, Elom Joseph Onwe, Odo Sunday and Ituma Abel. Others reportedly fled the scene.
The hoodlums in their large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons and objects suspected to be charms, had invaded the police stations, set them on fire along with patrol vehicles, exhibit vehicles, tricycles/motorcycles and other police property within the station.
The PPRO revealed that the officers injured were ASP Akili Benson, Inspector Okewu Sunday, Inspector Egun Omini and PC Ali Samson.
They are currently receiving treatment at undisclosed hospitals, according to her.
Meanwhile, Odah noted that the police lost two Ak47 rifles during the attack.
She called on the traditional rulers, Town Union and Youth Presidents, Community and religious leaders to join hands with the Police to restore peace in their various communities and assist in fishing out the perpetrators of this heinous crimes.
The PRO said, “It is with a deep sense of grief that the Command is officially issuing a press statement today on the activities of some unscrupulous youths suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) who took to the streets of our peaceful State, Ebonyi, with evil intentions in the guise of ENDSARS, not minding that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has disbanded SARS.
“And to the best of my knowledge, the then Ebonyi State Command Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) under the leadership of CSP Ibrahim Imam, has no case of Police brutality, yet this group went about, attacking, killing Policemen and burning/looting and destroying government/private properties in the state.
“The hoodlums proceeded to B Division KpriKpri/C Division Ekumenyi (Eke-Abe Police Station) and set the two Stations on fire, after looting exhibit motorcycles, Plasma TVs, fans and other valuables from the exhibit rooms.
“The hoodlums resurfaced on 22nd of October, 2020 and set ablaze Ohaozara Divisional Headquarters and Okposi Police Station together with two patrol vehicles, three exhibit vehicles and the DPO’s car.
“The hoodlums also critically injured Inspector Egun Omini, attached to Ohaozara Division who is currently on admission in the hospital. They looted the two Police formations’ exhibit rooms and vandalized the newly built Okposi Divisional Headquarters which is yet to be commissioned.
“A joint Operation of Police, the military and other sister security agencies was immediately deployed to the scene of crime and strategic points within the State, to avert further damages and six suspects were arrested in connection with the case, which include: Ogodo Echezona “m”, Nwanikwo Ogbonna “m”, Ukoro Leonard, “m”, Elom Joseph Onwe, “m”, Odo Sunday “m” and Ituma Abel “m”, while others fled the scene. The arrested suspects have been charged to court.
“All the appeals, warnings and other professional efforts made by the Police to stop the hoodlums from further attack proved abortive as they regrouped in their large numbers on Monday 26/10/2020 and reinvaded the Central Police Station Abakaliki for the second time, set the station on fire together with Police patrol vehicles, exhibit vehicles, tricycles/motorcycles and other police property seen within the station, shooting sporadically at the Policemen.
“As a result, they gruesomely murdered one Inspr Egu Omini, cut off his private part and snatched his AK-47 riffle. As if that was not enough, today Wednesday 28/10/2020, at about 4am, the hoodlums again stormed Ezza North Divisional Headquarters, vandalised the building, burnt two vehicles and Exhibit motorcycles. They shot and wounded One Inspr. Okewu Sunday and snatched his AK-47 riffle. The victim is currently receiving treatment in the Hospital.”
