By Cajetan Mmuta
Two policemen attached to the Anambra State command have been declared missing after a fierce battle with gunmen on Sunday in the state.
The missing officers were among the police team of the state command who had an encounter with unknown gunmen at Lilu, Orsumoghu, and Azia areas of the Ihiala local government area of the state.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu told newsmen in Awka the state capital that the two missing police officers were attached to the Commissioner of Lands in Enugu state, Hon. Chidi Aroh.
The police officers were said to be escorting the commissioner and other government functionaries when the gunmen attacked the convoy.
The PPRO stated that because of the quick response by a team of police operatives from the state command that had been keeping security vigilance in that axis, the Commissioner of Lands was able to escape from the attack.
However, the hoodlums snatched the guns of the two police officers who he said had been missing.
Further investigations revealed that about four policemen, a military personnel, and three members of the gang of armed men lost their lives during the clash.
Ikenga stated that he had not received any details of casualties during the encounter.
He explained that there were “Ongoing operations in that part of Ihiala axis for some time now because of the activities of armed-hoodlums in that area.”
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“The yesterday(Sunday) incident was that some armed-hoodlums attacked the Commissioner of Lands, Enugu state in that area, and, because of the gallantry put up by a team of our men who have been patrolling that axis for some times now, the commissioner was able to escape, but, the hoodlums snatched the guns of the two policemen attached to him, and, the two policemen have been missing.
“So, our men have been combing that area to see if the whereabouts of the missing police officers can be found, this is the much I can tell you now”, he said.
Orsumoghu, Lilu, and Azia communities are part of the Ihiala local government area of Anambra state which share common boundaries with Orlu and Orsu local government areas of Imo state.
