ANOTHER ATTACK: POLICEMAN AND OKADA RIDER SHOOT DEAD NEAR A CHURCH IN ONITSHA
A police officer and a commercial motorcyclist were shot dead on Sunday (13 August) by suspected armed robbers near the Assemblies of God Church on Oguta Road, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Another man said to be the panda riders passenger was said to have sustained injury and taken to hospital.
An eye witness told radio Nigeria that the gunmen who came on a motorcycle stopped in front of the church but on sighting some policemen guarding the premises they opened fire on them.
Another resident who witnessed the incident alleged that the robbers collected the riffle belonging to the police officer they killed and shot a commercial motorcycle rider while escaping.
When Radio Nigeria visited the church, the pastor who refused to identify himself said he was not authorized to speak to journalists.
In the meantime, the police command in Anambra State says the killing of two persons including a police officer on Sunday morning in Onitsha is not a direct attack on the church as being speculated.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Nkiruka Nwode, made this known while confirming the incident to journalists.
Nwode said the hoodlums came in the guise of masquerading youths and opened fire on the officers who were on patrol at the area.
She also confirmed that the armed robbers made away with a riffle belonging to the deceased officer.
The PPRO however said the team of policemen responded swiftly and arrested one of the hoodlums while others on the run were being trailed and expressed the hope that they would soon be apprehended.
She advised parents to restrain their children and wards from engaging in acts capable of ruining their future as the command would not hesitate to deal with anyone found committing any form of crime in Anambra State.
UCHE NDEKE