Aliyu Garba, the commissioner of police for Ebonyi State, announced on Friday that some suspected hoodlums had been taken into custody after they allegedly attacked patrolling officers and set their van on fire at Nkomoro/Agba, a location that separates the state’s LGAs of Ezza North and Ishielu.
Garba revealed this in a statement released to journalists in Abakaliki on Friday and signed by SP Chris Anyanwu, the PPRO.
A police patrol team assigned to the Ezza North Divisional Headquarters was ambushed while on patrol by a group of thugs who fired sporadically at them, according to the statement.
“But a quick response by the patrolmen got the hoodlums scampering for escape riddled with bullet injuries.
“The aftermath of the encounter left a patrol vehicle burnt by the miscreants, but no life was lost on the side of the police team. However, two Policemen who sustained injuries as a result of the attack, are responding to treatment in the hospital.
“It is pertinent to state that this is the first and only Press Statement emanating from Ebonyi State Police Command touching that callous attack.”
The Commissioner said no police officer was killed during a gun battle between the police and the suspected hoodlums.
He states, “It became miffed when the command’s attention was drawn to the fake news, claiming that two policemen were killed during the encounter.
“I hereby debunk the claim that two policemen were killed. Also, I never confirmed any such fallacious report and others that replicated such falsehood.
Garba further stated, “none of our weapons was carted away by the hoodlums. The tactical teams of the Command have penetrated the area and have arrested a number of suspects who are helping out in the investigation. The outcome of the investigation will be captured in later updates,” he stressed.