Another gun duel in Abia, Police, 2 others dead

An Inspector of Police in Ndiegoro Divisional Headquarters, whose identity could not immediately be ascertained, has reportedly been killed in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State in a gun duel between a team of police officers and a group of gunmen.

Our correspondent also gathered two members of the gang of gunmen were killed by the police team while others were said to have sustained and escaped with degrees of gunshot injuries in the melee.

Residents reported they couldn’t sleep on Tuesday night as policemen invaded the area to conduct a massive arrest of residents.

It was gathered the massive arrest, which was ongoing as of the time of filing the report, has gone beyond the location at which the incident happened.

It was learnt the incident, which happened on Tuesday afternoon, forced many traders and residents around the popular Iheorji Market off Ohanku to abandon their wares over possible police arrest.

Sources within the location of the incident alleged that the police officers had left a drug bunk in the area where they had reportedly gone to collect their “royalty” when the gunmen said to be operating in a motor tricycle stormed the area and engaged them in a gun duel, sending passerby, market women and other road users to scamper for safety.

Abia Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna alleged the attackers were suspected to be IPOB/ESN members.

Ogbonna, who debunked the police officers going to the said drug bunk, stated that the officers were in the area for routine patrol and surveillance.

The PPRO, who confirmed the death of the police inspector, added that the two persons that died were members of the group.

He gave the number of the missing rifle as “Breech no 552511308, adding that their corpses have been deposited at the morgue.”