- One officer shot inside a Toyota Siena car, while the other died during an exchange near the patrol vehicle
- Federal Roads Safety Corps officers witnessed the incident and removed the vehicles from the scene in shock
Two policemen who lost their lives while on duty along the Ozoro/Ughelli expressway have been found by the Delta State police command.
This incident occurred one week after an armed robbery gang shot and killed a police officer from the Dragon 19 unit on the same Ughelli expressway, stealing his service rifle in the process.
According to GalaxyTv, the policemen were fatally attacked by the armed men in a commando-style at a checkpoint. One of the officers was gunned down inside a Toyota Siena car, while the other was killed during an exchange of fire near the patrol vehicle.
The Delta police command spokesperson, Edafe Bright, has not yet issued a statement on the matter. However, when contacted by GalaxyTV, he expressed his reluctance to engage in debates with those claiming that the patrol vehicle was set on fire by the criminals.
Witnesses from the Federal Roads Safety Corps who were present during the incident were deeply shaken and proceeded to remove the vehicles from the scene.
According to an official statement released by the army, the operation was prompted by distress calls indicating an attack on the community. Following the encounter, some of the “terrorists” sought refuge in a hideout near Okpanam river.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, in a release on Tuesday said, “Combined troops of 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police and operatives of the Department of State Services have neutralized two IPOB/ESN fighters and arrested five others after a fierce encounter that took place on Monday 17 July 2023 at Fuji Junction general area in Asaba, Delta state.”