In a tragic turn of events, a police inspector was shot dead by gunmen at a checkpoint in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State. The attack, which took place on Monday night at the Union Bank Roundabout, close to the police command headquarters, also left two other police officers with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
According to reports, the unidentified gunmen opened fire at the checkpoint, killing the inspector on the spot and injuring the other officers. The injured officers were later taken to a hospital in Abakaliki for medical attention. The police have not disclosed the identities of the victims but have assured the public that investigations are ongoing.
Confirming the attack, the Ebonyi State Police Command released a statement on Tuesday through its spokesperson, SP Onome Onovwakpoyeya. Onovwakpoyeya revealed that operatives of the command had engaged in a shootout with heavily armed hoodlums, whose mission was unknown in the area.
The statement read in part, “Sadly, one of the operatives paid the supreme price, while two others were injured and are receiving treatment in the hospital. Also, the hoodlums equally recorded casualties but were taken away. The Commissioner of Police, therefore, appeals to members of the public to report anyone seen with a bullet wound or soliciting for treatment for the same.”
The incident has sent shock waves throughout the city, with residents expressing concerns over the rising cases of insecurity in the state. The police have advised citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agents in the area.
The attack on the Ebonyi checkpoint is the latest in a series of security challenges facing the state and Nigeria at large, with calls for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to address the situation before it gets out of hand.
