Ugamatv
One policeman has been feared killed, another missing and three others injured during an attack on Effium community, in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
They were reportedly attacked on Sunday by gunmen alongside the member representing Ohaukwu North Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Chinedu Awo.
UGAMATV gathered that the three injured policemen were rushed to the Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, for treatment.
A source confirmed that two of the policemen successfully underwent surgeries at the hospital, while a senior police officer, who led the team and was shot in the leg, asked to be discharged.
Awo is said to be stable after he was treated at the hospital.
UGAMATV learnt that the attack happened at Effium community, where the lawmaker and the policemen went in search of a consultant, who was abducted alongside three others while handling the Ebonyi Ring Road project three weeks ago.
Our correspondent was told that Awo led the team to confirm a report that the victims were killed and buried.
They were said to be on their way when the hoodlums ambushed and opened fire on them.
Effium, which Awo represents, has been enmeshed in an intra-communal war with the Ezza-Effium community.
The war has claimed many lives and property worth billions of naira destroyed.
However, the Ebonyi State Police Command, on Monday, said two of its men were abducted by the hoodlums.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Loveth Odah, in a statement, said, “On November 28, 2021 around 1.40pm, while police operatives were returning from investigation activities in connection with three missing engineers who were abducted in the same area on November 3, 2021 while on the Ring Road site project, the operatives were in the company of Hon. Chinedu Awo, a member representing Ohaukwu North Constituency in the state House of Assembly, who accompanied the operatives to enable him to dialogue with the warriors at Igbuduoke village in Effium/Ezza clan, ‘the warring community’ in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state.
“They were ambushed by armed Ezza warriors numbering over 60, who attacked them from all flanks. But the operatives gallantly fought back, resulting in heavy casualties on the side of the attackers.
“However, DSP Bruno Chukwu and two others sustained bullet wounds and are currently responding to treatment, while two police officers, Sergeant Donatus Osugwu and Sergeant Thaddeus Ugoeze, are suspected to have been abducted by the hoodlums, as they were discovered missing in action.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, Aliyu Garba, led a convoy of about seven teams on reinforcement, where they cordoned off the forest and searched the village, but could not see the missing officers or the perpetrators.
Efforts are in top gear to ensure the perpetrators are tracked down and arrested.”
Chidiogo asuke
