From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The 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.
“The hoodlums, unable to withstand the firepower of the police officers, fled the scene after their attack was repelled.”
Chinaka said during the operation, ASP Etim Obungha was rescued unharmed, while Corporal Chukwu Odoemelam, who sustained a 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.
“In the course of the operation, some exhibits were recovered from the crime scene, and an investigation is ongoing with a view to tracking down the hoodlums,” the statement added.
Chinaka disclosed that watertight security measures have been put in place, as tactical teams, operatives from the Ohafia Area Command, in collaboration with the army component from the 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 the 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.