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3 killed including two Nigerian police officers as gunmen carry out fresh attack in Imo

Published

7 months ago

November 28, 2023

At least three people have been shot dead including two Nigerian police officers as gunmen carried out a fresh attack at Ahiara Junction in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to reports, the attacker on Monday, November 27, 2023, opened fire on the cops who were in uniform, and two policemen were killed on the spot while a stray bullet killed a passer-by.

An eyewitness, who confirmed the incident, said, “The attack came at the time the new commissioner of police in the state, Danjuma Aboki, was in the area on a morale boosting visit to his officers in Mbaise.”

The police spokesperson in Imo State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident to Punch newspaper.

Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the police in the state had declared a manhunt for the attackers.

“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, commander 34 Artillery Brigade and Joint Task Force operatives are combing the scene of the crime for evidence that will possibly lead to the arrest of hoodlums responsible for the attack and killing of (the) two policemen,” he said.

Like other states in Nigeria’s south-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons.

The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.

This latest attack occurred about two days after gunmen abducted and then killed the traditional ruler of Otulu Community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.

The killing of the traditional ruler happened barely 48 hours after gunmen killed Chiedoziem Anyanwu, a ward chairperson of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

The Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. However, the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.

IPOB is a group leading agitation for an independent state of Biafra which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.