Abia State police command in an operation said to have been led by the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa has rescued an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) abducted by gunmen during an attack, and recovered the body of another ASP killed in the attack.
Gunmen on Wednesday, barely 48 hours after hoodlums killed a police Inspector attached to a member of the House of Representatives, in Umuahia, ambushed a police patrol team in Asaga, Ohafia, killing an ASP and injuring others.
A statement by the command’s police public relations officer (PPRO), Maureen Chinaka, said the Commissioner of Police led the operation along Asaga Road by Terry Key in Ohafia in a bid to apprehend the hoodlums who ambushed and attacked officers on patrol duty on Wednesday (yesterday, November 20).
“The hoodlums, unable to withstand the firepower of the police officers, fled the scene after their attack was repelled,” the statement said.
Chinaka said during the operation, ASP Etim Obungha was rescued unhurt, while Corporal Chukwu Odoemelam, who sustained bullet injury during the attack, was rushed to the hospital and is currently responding to treatment.
“Tragically, the body of ASP Etet Uboulo, who did not survive the earlier attack, was recovered,” the statement further read.
“In the course of the operation, some exhibits were recovered from the crime scene and investigation is ongoing with the view to tracking down the hoodlums”, the statement added.
Chinaka disclosed that watertight security measures have been put in place, assuring that tactical teams, operatives from Ohafia Area Command in collaboration with the army component from 14 Brigade, Ohafia, are currently on patrol in the area.
Wednesday’s attack occurred in Ugwu Abba, Asaga Ohafia in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
It was gathered that the gunmen who ambushed the police patrol team, opened fire on sighting the policemen, killing an ASP who was later identified as
Etet Uboulo.
Another policeman was said to have been seriously wounded in the attack.
The police, while assuring residents of their safety, urged them to volunteer information that could lead to the arrest of the fleeing hoodlums.
