February 11, (THEWILL) – At least three police officers have been reported killed on Friday afternoon, when gunmen ambushed the advance security team of the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Although details of the incident are sketchy, THEWILL gathered that the gunmen attacked the security team in Ihiala, a community in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The hoodlums were said to have freed one of the four police officers, who was not in police uniform during the attack.
Sources said the officers were en route to Abia State, where Okowa was reportedly billed to travel to for a meeting with some PDP members in the State ahead of the February 25 presidential election.
The slain officers were identified as Celestine Nwadiokwu, Jude Obuh and Lucky Aleh, an Inspector – all indigenes of Delta State, Nigeria’s south-south.
While the Delta State Government and the State Police Command have not issued any statement on the development, Spokesperson of the Anambra Police Command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident.
Ikenga said the victims were officers attached to the Explosives Ordinance Department of the Delta State Police Command and were on an official assignment for the State Government.
“The officers came under attack and their vehicle was set ablaze by some yet-to-be-identified armed men,” he said, adding that the police in Anambra State have recovered the bodies of the three slain officers following receipt information about the attack.
“Efforts are currently ongoing in tracking down the armed men that committed this act,” he said.
About the Author
