A Police Constable was killed and an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) feared abducted on Sunday when gunmen ambushed a patrol team near Finas Gas Station along the Okigwe-Umuahia Road in Imo State.
The incident, which occurred around 9:00 a.m. close to the Old Gariki area in Okigwe, described by sources as a “dangerous zone”, left one officer dead and another missing, according The Nation.
During the ambush, the police said, Police Constable Oluebube was shot dead, and his service rifle was taken by the attackers. ASP Casmir, who led the patrol team, has been missing since the attack, and fears are growing that he may have been abducted and killed.
“One PC, Oluebube, was killed in action, and his smoke gunner carted away. ASP Casmir and his AK-47 rifle are missing. Other members of his team have returned to base with their rifles and are currently receiving medical care,” a source disclosed.
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The Imo State Police Command, confirming the incident on Monday, said a manhunt has been launched to apprehend those responsible.
Spokesman for the Command, Henry Okoye, said the attackers are believed to be affiliated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its Eastern Security Network (ESN), based on preliminary findings.
“An intense operation is ongoing to apprehend the miscreants responsible for the attack,” Okoye said.
He said further, “We are aware that some may question why IPOB is being mentioned, but we cannot ignore confessional statements by suspects who openly associate their actions with the group. As a law enforcement agency, it is our duty to report facts as uncovered during investigations.”
