Gunmen have attacked the convoy of Anambra State political heavyweight Chris Uba at Uga junction in his hometown in Aguata Local Government Area, killing two police officers and two others.
Mr Uba’s convoy was said to have run into the gunmen on Thursday night, leading to a gun battle that killed two officers of the Enugu State Police Command and two others.
The gunmen’s alleged aim to kidnap the politician failed, but it was unclear if they succeeded in kidnapping anyone in the convoy.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the public relations officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the assailants wore military uniforms for their kidnap mission, but police officers are on the manhunt for the criminals.
The statement read, “The gang, which was disguised in military fatigue and seemed to be on a kidnap mission, were jolted on seeing two armed police officers approaching their direction.
“They opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the convoy they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock. Other personnel returned fire, careful not to hit many motorists who were in traffic, forcing the bandits to flee.
“Police-led Mobile Forward Operating Base, which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas celebrations, promptly responded to the scene.
“It recovered a Lexus SUV the gang operated with and defused an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle. It also recovered an AK-47 Rifle belonging to one of the slain personnel. ”
He said the state’s commissioner of police, Aderemi Adeoye, however, urged officers not to be demoralised by the supreme price paid by their colleagues from the Enugu command but should draw inspiration from their bravery.