Caution against misinformation
The Police in Enugu, yesterday, gave a harrowing account of how two officers and three neighbourhood watch members were gruesomely murdered in Igga Community, Uzo-Uwani Local Council of the state at the weekend.
They also confirmed the arrest of three male suspects in connection with the killings, adding that the bodies of the murdered police officers and Neighbourhood Watch members have been recovered and taken to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The Guardian gathered that the deceased were killed during an attack by some hoodlums on a team of Investors on a tour of a proposed Ada Rice Production Limited, an agricultural investment site, close to the community.
Following the attack, a combined team of security officials reportedly returned to the community on Saturday night, shooting and setting some targets on fire.
A viral video on Facebook linked to the incident showed several property and shops on flames while a male voice was heard in the background lamenting and appealing for help for the community members.
But Enugu State Police Command in a statement yesterday, stated that its officers and the team of investors from Lagos were ambushed by the criminal gang in the community who opened fire on them.
The statement signed by the Command’s spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe said: “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the public of the unprovoked and unwarranted attack and gruesome murder of two police officers and three Neighbourhood Watch members by harboured criminal members of the Igga Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Council in the evening hours of Friday, May 3.
“On the same date, a combined security team of three police officers and four Neighbourhood Watch Group provided security for a team of visiting investors from Lagos on a tour of a proposed agricultural investment site in the area.
“However, the team was ambushed and attacked by a large group of criminal elements, who opened fire on them.”
He continued: “Upon the unprovoked sudden attack, members of the team scampered for safety, while an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who led the team, one Neighbourhood Watch personnel, and the three members of the team of investors were later rescued by a police team that immediately mobilised to the crime scene.
“But they eventually murdered some members of the team, while others are missing and unaccounted for.
“However, in the course of a full-scale investigation, a search and manhunt operation launched thereafter, three males suspected to have masterminded the attack were arrested.
“Their revelations during interrogation led to the discovery and recovery of the slain policemen and Neighborhood Watch Group members in the forest on May 4.
“Their lifeless bodies were taken to the hospital, confirmed dead by doctors, and deposited in the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.”
Ndukwe added that the Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has described the “unprovoked criminal act of the gruesome murder of the personnel as inconceivable, dastardly and unwarranted”.
According to him, the CP has further ordered deployment of the Command’s intelligence and operational resources to sustain the manhunt of the fleeing criminals, stressing that the Police will stop at nothing to fish out and bring the perpetrators of the senseless act to book.
“Furthermore, the CP has cautioned those who are attempting to misinform and mislead unsuspecting members of the public by circulating unverified videos alleging the burning and looting of houses in the community by joint forces, to desist forthwith.
“The Commissioner has also advised members of the Igga community, particularly the criminal elements directly involved in the unthinkable and wanton act of murdering serving police officers and others, to voluntarily surrender themselves to the Police without delay,” he stated.
Recall that suspected herders last week attacked another community in Uzouwani council, Nimbo, and killed three mourners.
Governor Peter Mbah, who later visited the community vowed to fish out those behind the ugly act and restore peace and order in the area.