Gunmen kill 11 in Aba, Nnewi, P’Harcourt, bizman, 2 women abducted

No fewer that 11 policemen have been reportedly killed by gunmen in Nnewi, Aba and Port Harcourt, in the last 48 hours. Daily Sun learnt that gunmen numbering  about six, over the weekend shot and killed four mobile policemen at a checkpoint on the Aba–Ikot-Ekpene highway even as the hoodlums set ablaze the police Hilux van. They equally kidnapped a businessman traveling towards Akwa Ibom State.

An eyewitness account has it that the businessman who was traveling in a red Sport Utility Vehicle was flagged down at the Umuibe checkpoint by policemen on duty for a routine check, unaware that the businessman was being trailed. The men of the underworld, numbering  six and riding on three motorcycles, emerged from nowhere and opened fire on the policemen, killing three of them instantly.
Another policeman who ran into the bush with gunshot wounds was said to have died later. The gunmen also set ablaze the police Hilux van.

It was also gathered that after the gunmen had successfully overpowered the policemen, collected their guns, took the businessman and sped off to their hideout.
As at the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the businessman whose identity has not been ascertained, remained unknown. The kidnappers were believed not to have demanded for ransom yet.
Last Tuesday, gunmen were also said to have killed two policemen at a checkpoint on the  Isiala Ngwa axis of the Enugu/Port Harcourt highway before heading towards Aba.

Area Commander, Nigeria Police, Aba, confirmed the incidents but said only one policeman was killed at Umuibe. He promised that his command would fish out the perpetrators. Wondering why it was only in the Aba axis of the state that violent crimes and kidnapping had persisted, he called on traditional rulers in the area to co-operate with the police in the fight against criminality in the commercial city and its environs.
Two weeks ago, two persons believed to be police officers were kidnapped along the Aba-Azumini highway.
In another incident, suspected armed robbers attacked and killed four policemen at a police checkpoint in Nnewi, Anambra State.

According to Daily Sun source, the men were killed on Sunday night at Uruagu Nnewi near St Mary’s Anglican Church, while they were on their way to respond to a distress call.
Daily Sun gathered that the policemen where on duty along Nnewi-Oba new road when they received the distress call.
But before they got to the robbery scene where they were directed by the caller, the hoodlums allegedly ambushed them.

When Daily Sun contacted the Nnewi Area Commander, Mr John Amadi (AC) referred the reporter to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Awka, Mr Emeka Chukwuemeka (ASP).
The PPRO, when contacted, however, said he heard about the incident but did not have details, saying the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr Philemon Leha had visited the scene.
Also on Sunday, gunmen went on rampage in Port Harcourt, kidnapped two women in separate incidents and killed a Police Inspector.

Also, a police patrol van hit by kidnappers’ bullets caught fire while two bystanders were injured by stray bullets during a gun duel with policemen.
However, one of the abducted women, Mrs. Millicent Texas, a Ghanaian married to a Nigerian, was later rescued from the boot of a car in the early hours of Monday when the kidnappers met stiff resistance from another police patrol team.
Police authorities identified the slain police officer whose AK47 rifle was taken away by gunmen as Inspector Williams Ezeogu of the Elimgbu Police Station.

Four armed men were said to have kidnapped one Mrs. Rita Oparaocha of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing at about 8.45pm on Sunday at a spot behind Rumuokuta Girls Secondary School.
She was abducted in her red KIA Sorento car with registration number GK 246 RBC as she was driving to her house.
Several police patrol teams were consequently deployed to hunt down the gunmen and at about 9.30pm, a police squad from the Umuebulu Police Station accosted the hoodlums at Edegbelem village during which a police patrol van was hit.

It was gathered that about one hour later, at the Tank Junction the fleeing kidnappers were engaged in a gun fight with policemen from the nearby Elimgbu Police Station during which the Police Inspector was fatally hit and his rifle snatched by the kidnappers.
However, at about 2.30am Monday, yet another Police squad forced the fleeing kidnappers to abandon a Honda car from which the Ghanaian, whose Nigerian husband is a staff of Four Star Marine Limited, was rescued from the booth.
Confirming the incidents, Police spokesperson, Dr. Rita Abbey (SP) said the hunt for the kidnappers was in progress while investigation continues.

Similarly, a popular hotelier in Port Harcourt, Mr. Magnus Akpukwu was shot dead in his residence in the early hours of yesterday at his Rumuaghuolu area of the Rivers State capital.
Eyewitnesses said the gun-totting men shot indiscriminately into the air to scare the people. It was not clear whether any belonging of the deceased was stolen by the killers.
Police spokesperson, Dr. Rita Abbey (SP) said some eyewitnesses had been interviewed by the police to unravel circumstances surrounding the attack as well as the motive and identities of the killers.