Hoodlums Attack Policemen With Machete In Asaba, Cart Away Four Rifles

Suspected hoodlums have reported attacked some policemen at a checkpoint in Asaba, the Delta State capital and went away with their service rifles.

BIGPEN Online understands that it is the second time in Asaba suspected hoodlums are ‘disarming policemen’ on duty and carting away their rifles after a major ambush.

It was gathered that the suspected hoodlums numbering 11, trailed the policemen to the popular Moziac Junction along the Asaba/Onitsha road of the state capital where they mounted a roadblock.

Eyewitness says the policemen were reportedly attacked with machete and broken bottles.

They allegedly overpowered the policemen on duty and ran away with their guns while shooting sporadically, the source disclosed.

Sources said that four policemen attached to the Delta State Police Command who were severely injured in the encounter were hospitalized following life threatening injuries they sustained from attack.

“The suspected hoodlums armed with cutlasses and other objects dispossessed the arms-wielding policemen on Wednesday October 30, 2019 at about 9:20pm”, our source said.

Residents of the area disclosed that four service guns belonging to the police including two AK47 were reportedly carted away by the invaders.

Unfortunately, one of the policemen reportedly died as a result of various degrees of  injuries sustained during the attack.

Residents of the area said they were stricken with panic when armed policemen after the attack came to the area to arrest “innocent youths” indiscriminately.

“The incident took place at Moziac Junction along the Asaba/Onitsha road. The incident happened on Wednesday October 30, 2019 at about 9pm.

“We don’t know how it happened but the hoodlums numbering eleven macheted some policemen with four sustaining life threatening injuries.

“The policemen were rushed to hospitals through the assistance of residents of the area.

“One of them was in coma at the time they were rushed to hospitals. We learnt that the officer died but you have to clarify from the police authorities.”

Another source who also confirmed the incident added, “They (hoodlums) collected their arms and the policemen are in the hospital right now. One is said to be dead. They took two AK47 riffles and two pistles from them.

Recalls armed hoodlums had in April this year also attacked a team of policemen who were on a stop-and-search duty in Asaba, carting away two service rifles in that encounter.

There have been increasing crime rate in Asaba and other parts of the state in recent time.

Just few weeks ago, an inlaw of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Elizabeth, who is a younger sister to the wife of the governor was abducted before she was later rescued.

Also a senior advocate of Nigeria, Mr Chike Onyemenam was recently kidnapped and released after a while.

Findings show that a similar attack occurred about three weeks ago in the Udu area of state when some suspected cultist reportedly ambushed policemen and carted away two service riffles.

The rifles were however recovered through the help of some local politicians in the area.

Meanwhile when contacted by one of our correspondent, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, on Friday said he was on vacation, so could not speak on the incident.

He referred our correspondent to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Onome Onowakpoyeya, who could not also be reached on Friday evening when this report was filed.

But multiple police sources confirmed the development on condition of anonymity.

“Yes the four policemen are receiving treatment at an hospitals in the state capital”, a police chief confirmed Friday evening.

According to the source, manhunt have been launched against the fleeing attackers while the police command promised to carry out a full-scale investigation into the incident, our source added.