The Nigeria Police in Abia has begun an investigation into the killing of an officer by some gunmen on Sunday night at Ubakala, near Umuahia, the Abia State capital, even as the state government has vowed that promoters of violence and insecurity in the state will pay a heavy price.
This came barely four days after three soldiers were gunned down at Ekenobizi in Umuhia South LGA.
TheNigerian Metro gathered that the incident happened at a road bump at the Dr Okezie Ikpeazu Shopping Plaza located at the gate of the council headquarters, Apumiri Ubakala of Umuahia South LGA and barely 10 metres away from the Ubakala Police Station.
According to an eyewitness around the scene, bullets rained as if it was a war engagement, while all around there scampered for safety, leaving their homes and shops abandoned.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen C Chinaka, on behalf of the state Commissioner Of Police, CP Danladi Isa, said, “On 17/11/2024, at about 20:30hrs, two police officers, from the Special Protection Unit Base 4, Makurdi, Inspector Dunna Jatau and Inspector Bala Mohammed, assigned to a member of the House of Representatives representing the Isiala Ngwa North/South constituency, Ginger Onwusibe, were ambushed by armed assailants while on official duty in Umuahia.
“The officers were in a Police Toyota Hilux vehicle after accompanying and dropping off the lawmaker in Umuahia. On their way, near Umuahia South Local Government Area Secretariat in Ubakala, their vehicle was intercepted by armed men dressed in black attire, operating in a Toyota Corolla with tinted windows. The assailants blocked the path of the police vehicle and opened fire. Tragically, Inspector Bala Mohammed sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene. Inspector Dunna Jatau and the driver escaped the attack.
“The area was immediately combed by officers of the command as a comprehensive search operation was launched to locate the attackers. Tactical teams have been deployed to track down the fleeing suspects. Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
“The Abia State Police Command is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice. We urge the public to remain calm, stay security conscious, go about their activities and report any suspicious persons or vehicles to the nearest police station.”
In its immediate reaction, the Abia State Government, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor, (Media and Publicity), Ferdinand Ekeoma, said, “Following a series of tip-offs from patriotic citizens and reliable intelligence, it has been firmly established that some unpatriotic politicians, in connivance with some external parties, are behind the current wave of violence and crime in the state since the end of May.
“The sole agenda is to cause disaffection and distract the government from its focus on the development of the state. This strategy kicked in as they realised that their initial efforts at churning out lies and fabrications against the government in pretentious posturing as “opposition” had failed to gain currency amongst Abia people who have thoroughly ignored them and their antics since they know the truth.”
Ekeoma said, “While the Abia State government is known and acknowledged locally, nationally and internationally as a peace-loving government, devoid of involvement in politics of violence, division and destruction, it must be noted that we will not yield to blackmail or intimidation. It needs to be understood that the government will not sit idly by and watch any person or group of persons unleash violence on innocent and peace-loving citizens of the state.
“Having sworn to an oath to protect the lives and property of Abians, including every inch of Abia territory, the government wishes to declare as follows:
“That those behind the attacks on security agents and innocent civilians, including the kidnapping of law-abiding citizens to create anarchy and instil fear in the minds of Abians and visitors, after their failure to use lies and propaganda to incite Abians, should understand that the government will bring its full capacity and institutional forces to bear to smoke them out.”
