Abia State Government, Nigeria Police Force, and the military have confirmed the attack in Aba early Monday, where one gunman was neutralised, as others escaped with bullet wounds, and two attack vehicles were recovered.
According to the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, “Earlier today (Monday), criminal elements engaged the security personnel at Umuode community, along the Express Road and later at Umuojima in Aba and were overwhelmed by the superior firing and one of them was neutralized, while others escaped with various degrees of injuries”.
He regretted that the hoodlums were on the prowl to cause mayhem and urged the public to be vigilant, stating that state government will not permit criminal activities in the state, adding that the state government has zero tolerance and will not allow the criminal elements to destroy the modest achievement of the Otti administration.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Security Matters, Rtd. Navy Commander MacDonald Uba said, “What happened today (Monday) is a testament to the fact that we have restrategized”, and assured that the game has changed, stating that the fleeing criminals are being tracked, adding, “we will close in on them. This shows, it is no more game as usual”.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO ASP Maureen Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie said, “Today, 29th July 2024, at about 0930hrs, a joint convoy patrol team comprising police operatives, Nigerian Army personnel, and members of Operation Crush, while on patrol in Aba, Abia State, sighted vehicles suspected to be carrying armed men, moving towards Port Harcourt Express Road.
“The patrol team pursued and intercepted them around Umuode Village which led to an exchange of gunfire. The hoodlums were overpowered, and they abandoned their vehicles and took to flight, with gunshot injuries.
“A Sienna vehicle with bloodstains was recovered at the location. Subsequently, an abandoned Toyota Highlander SUV with the corpse of an unidentified suspect was recovered at Adanegbuazu along Mbamaonyeukwu Hotel Road in Umuode, Aba. The corpse has been deposited at a mortuary, and investigation is ongoing”.
The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command therefore, assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects and urged citizens to remain calm and continue their lawful activities, as security personnel have been deployed to strategic locations to ensure the safety and protection of life and property”.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any suspicious activities or individuals with bullet wounds to the nearest police station, as their cooperation is crucial in maintaining law and order in the state,” he pleaded.
Aba residents were Monday, thrown into panic as gunmen believed to be enforcers of Monday’s sit-at-home order struck the city.
The gunmen who wore hoods were said to have operated in two ash-coloured Sienna cars and a Hummer bus, struck the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway Monday morning at Arise and Shine junction by Umuosu.
It was gathered that the gunmen before setting ablaze a commercial bus that was en route to Port Harcourt, Rivers State on the Ugwunagbo local government area axis of the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, asked the passengers to alight from the bus, as well as set ablaze a Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) allegedly with a government number plate, belonging to a Medical Director (MD) who was about driving out of his hospital as the gunmen accosted him and ordered him out of his car.
Also attacked by the gunmen was a popular fast food located on the same Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, leaving the windows of the eatery shattered as customers scampered for safety.
Unconfirmed reports have it that a security personnel was allegedly shot and is receiving treatment in an undisclosed private hospital, while gunmen who were chased after by security men, escaped through Umuosu Primary School through Umugo to Ozata and joined the Expressway.
The gunmen allegedly gathered that soldiers of the 14 Brigade had cordoned off the Osisioma-Port Harcourt Expressway junction and diverted through the Umuode-Umuojima village road, causing residents to scamper for safety and close their shops as the gunmen shot sporadically into the air.
However, a security source from the 14 Brigade Army Headquarters, Ohafia told our correspondent that the military chased after the gunmen into Umuojima, killing one of them and inflicting injury on several of them in a gun duel and the body of the deceased gunman was said to have been recovered by the soldiers and the source further disclosed that one of the Sienna’s and a Land Cruiser used by the gunmen during the operation were recovered with blood stains.
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