A tragic incident occurred during a stop-and-search operation along the Onitsha/Owerri Expressway near Danaks Filling Station in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in the death of a police officer from the 29 Police Mobile Force, Awka.
The confrontation, which happened late Wednesday, caused panic among local residents and shop owners as gunfire erupted unexpectedly and created confusion in the area.
The officer, reportedly an inspector, was part of a patrol team conducting routine checks on the highway. Trouble began when they intercepted a Toyota Sienna vehicle allegedly driving against traffic.
Eyewitnesses around the scene recounted that the officers, unaware the occupants were suspected DSS operatives, signaled the vehicle to stop for inspection. However, the operatives allegedly refused and, during the ensuing tension, opened fire, leading to a deadly exchange.
According to a hawker who witnessed the scene and chose to remain anonymous, “The unmarked Toyota Sienna conveying the DSS operatives had emerged from a nearby track road and was driving against traffic, prompting the police patrol team to flag it down for questioning.
“However, the occupants allegedly declined to cooperate and instead opened fire on the police team, fatally hitting one of the officers, in his lower rib region.”
Following the shooting, the wounded officer was immediately taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala and later referred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, where he was confirmed dead on arrival.
Confirming the incident on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the situation as deeply unfortunate and called for calm while assuring the public that an investigation was underway.
“The deceased police officer, who was on duty at the checkpoint, was mistakenly fatally shot by operatives of a ‘friendly force’ who emerged from an unmarked Toyota Sienna vehicle dressed in black attire — a scene that initially triggered suspicion and led to the exchange of fire between the two security agencies.
“The situation had since been brought under control, while the case has been officially transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for discreet and comprehensive investigation.
“The State Police Command, headed by CP Ikioye Orutugu, has urged the public to remain calm and trust the command’s ongoing efforts to get to the root of the matter. All necessary protocols were being followed to ensure justice, as well as to forestall a recurrence of such incidents,” Ikenga added.
He noted that the deceased officer’s body has been deposited at the hospital mortuary pending autopsy and further procedures.
This development follows a similar tragedy that occurred less than two weeks ago, in which a police inspector, Okolie Amechi, attached to the Police Mobile Force 29 Squadron in Amansea, Awka, was accidentally killed by his 10-year-old son who mistakenly fired his AK-47 rifle.
Advertisement
