Anambra CP visits scene of police killing, orders manhunt of perpetrators

The combined team of security during the visit...credit: Police

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has led a combined team of the Nigerian Army, the Anambra State Police Command, and the Agunechemba Security Squad to Ndiukwuenu community in Orumba North LGA of the state, the scene where gunmen killed two policemen and two civilians. This follows the deadly attack that occurred on Sunday night along the Amansea–Ndiora–Ndiukwuenu–Awa–Ufuma Road, where the gunmen launched an attack on the convoy of Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Chief Ben Nwankwo. Investigations also revealed that the death toll from the attack has risen to four persons, comprising two police officers and two civilians who were in the convoy at the time of the incident. During the visit late on Monday, the CP conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scenes to personally evaluate the situation, reassured the local community, and oversaw tactical teams deployed for investigations. Orutugu ordered a full-scale manhunt and the deployment of specialised forensic assets to track the perpetrators. He, however, reprimanded the councillor, the president-general of the community, for allegedly allowing criminal elements to operate within the area without promptly alerting security agencies. He said, “This is an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scenes to personally evaluate the situation. A full-scale manhunt and the deployment of specialised forensic assets to track the perpetrators have been initiated. “We charge the local community to work closely with the Rapid Response Squad of the Command to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack using intelligence gathering.” The operatives of Agunechemba Security Squad, who were on the visit, also confirmed that the perpetrators of the heinous crime operate from Awka, the state capital, and use a white jeep to launch attacks on neighbouring communities before retreating. Related News Soludo’s Chief of Staff escapes death as gunmen ambush convoy Manhunt begins as gunmen kill two police officers in Anambra Anambra begins clampdown on unregistered mortuary operators Confirming the gunmen’s mode of operation, the Publicity Secretary of the Agunechemba Security Squad, Mr Nweke Nweke, said the operatives have maintained close surveillance of the perpetrators. “We have kept a close watch on these criminals, and we can state categorically that they are not residents of the area. They come from Awka, carry out their operations in a guerrilla-style manner, and then retreat back to the capital city