By Okechukwu Onuegbu
At least two police officers and a civilian were reported dead, on Friday, as Anambra State Police command battled crime suspects at Amukabia village in Achalla, the headquarters of Awka south Local Government Area (LGA).
The two officers and a civilian, sources identified as a car tracker were on a mission to recover a stolen vehicle when the suspects laid ambush on them, killed and set their bodies ablaze.
Confirming the report in a statement, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the operatives launched a counter offensive operation against the hoodlums during which they neutralized some of the armed men and destroyed three of their camps.
According to Ikenga, "The Anambra police Command, Friday, 15/07/2022, _recovered a human skull, one locally made rocket propelled grande RPG launcher, two (RPG) bombs, one single- barrel long gun, empty chain of bullet, one Toyota Sienna, one Mercedes Benz Formatic jeep, two cylinders a huge quantity of hard drugs and other items, including a police beret and a police belt_ in a criminal den at Amukabia, Achalla, Awka south LGA in Anambra State.
"The recovery came about following a counter- offensive operation launched against criminal elements who had on 15/7/2022 laid an ambush against a 6- man police team and a civilian car tracker who were on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched on gun point on 9/7/2022 in Oye-Agu Abagana. Four of the Police Operatives escaped the ambush, while two of the police operatives and the car tracker were captured by the criminals.
"The police operatives, during the counter offensive operation, neutralized some of the armed men and destroyed three of their camps. Unfortunately, some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds, having already murdered their captives and set their bodies ablaze. The remains of the two murdered police officers and the civilian tracker have been recovered and deposited in a morgue, while police operation is still ongoing in the area to track the fleeing gang members.
"The Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command, CP Echeng Echeng while condoling the families and friends of the murdered civilian(car- tracker) and the police operatives, described the incident as a classic example of the risk and sacrifices the police are exposed to in the onerous task of serving and protecting the country. He also assured Ndi Anambra that efforts are being intensified towards total reclamation and domination of all the public spaces occupied by hoodlums in the State, apprehending and bringing the hoodlums and their accomplices to justice."