From: Obinna Odogwu, Ekwulobia
Tragedy struck in Nkpor community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State at about 8:30pm, on Tuesday night, when a heavily armed, dare-devil thieves attacked traders at Nkpor market under the fly-over along the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway.
In the attack, a police officer was killed. The sporadic shots in the air by the criminals also left the traders scampering for safety.
The criminals, who rode on motorcycles, reportedly first opened fire on the sand bag team stationed in the area where they killed one and injured others. It was gathered that the robbers collected the AK47 rifle of the murdered police officer whose named was given as Sergeant Mathew Julius.
It was learnt that on arrival, the robbers positioned themselves before striking which made the police team unaware of the presence.
It was when they headed to where the police vehicle was packed that they shot dead the policeman, sergeant Mathew Julius, in it and collected his Ak 47 service rifle.
Another policeman, Sergeant David Alex, who was shot on his leg while with his AK 47 rifle, escaped death by the whiskers as he took cover inside the gutter when he was shot.
According to insider sources, two other Ak 47 rifles that were kept in the police vehicles when the robbers struck were not seen by the robbers when they collected that of the killed Sergeant.
According to inside police sources, the attacked police team was on illegal duty at Nkpor as at the time of the incident having been billed to be on duty at Ukpo community, Dunukofia Local Government Area.
Confirming the incident, the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Mr Hassan Musa, said, “we took the dead and the wounded to Borromeo hospital.” “We are still at the scene and investigation is on going to arrest the fleeing robbers.”
Reacting, an Idemili based legal pratitioner, Barr Pat Agbata described the attack as wicked adding that the police should be adequately equipped and worked in synergy with the local vigilant security operatives.