Two officers attached to the Abia State Police Command, Inspectors Dunna Jatau and Bala Mohammed, were ambushed by armed assailants while on official duty on Sunday night.
According to a statement on Monday by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka, the officers were attacked by armed men dressed in black attire after dropping off a member of the House of Representatives, Ginger Onwusibe.
The statement read, “On 17/11/2024, at about 20:30hrs, two police officers from the Special Protection Unit Base 4, Makurdi—Inspector Dunna Jatau and Inspector Bala Mohammed—assigned to Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, a member of the House of Representatives representing the Nsiala-Ngwa North/South constituency, were ambushed by armed assailants while on official duty in Umuahia.
“The officers were in a police Toyota Hilux vehicle after accompanying and dropping off the Honourable Member in Umuahia.
“On their way back, near the Umuahia South Local Government Area Secretariat in Ubakala, their vehicle was intercepted by armed men dressed in black attire, operating in a Toyota Corolla with tinted windows.”
The assailants reportedly blocked the road and opened fire on the officers.
“Tragically, Inspector Bala Mohammed sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene, while Inspector Dunna Jatau and the driver managed to escape the attack,” the statement added.
Following the incident, the police command said it had combed the area and launched a comprehensive search operation to locate the attackers. Tactical teams have been deployed to track the fleeing suspects, and an investigation is ongoing.
“The Abia State Police Command is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the statement added.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that last Wednesday, two soldiers were killed when gunmen attacked an army checkpoint at the Imo/Abia boundary community of Ekenobizi in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.