A police inspector from Ndiegoro Police Station in Aba, Abia was killed on Tuesday by suspected IPOB/ESN members around Ohanku Road-Iheorji junction in Aba.
Two of the attackers were however neutralized by the police in the ensuing gun duel.
Confirming the incident, the Abia Police Public Relations Officer, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna said the incident happened at about 12:30 pm on Tuesday.
Mr Ogbonna said some policemen from Ndiegoro Police Station were on patrol around Iheorji when they came under attack by people suspected to be IPOB/ESN members.
“During a gun duel, one of the Policemen paid the supreme price while two of the gunmen were neutralized.
“As they shot the policeman they also collected his Police AK 47 riffle”, he said.
An eye witness told News Agency of Nigeria in Aba that the Inspector was killed by one of the gang members when he went after the hoodlum as he was escaping.
The witness who gave his name only as Ahanna said that the incident happened about noon on Tuesday.
“We were to the market when we saw these boys, who were inside a tricycle with very powerful guns as they passed us.
“It was not long when they passed by us that some policemen on patrol followed them.
“The Policemen engaged them and killed two of them while the others ran away and one ran into the back of a nearby building.
“The Inspector ran after the robber that ran to the back of a nearby building unknown to him that the other robber was waiting for him.
“The robber shot at the Inspector at close range and killed him on the spot”, he narrated.
Ogbonna said that the police were on the trail of the gunmen who escaped and urged residents to volunteer credible information that would help in their arrest.
NAN
