The Imo state police command says its officers killed a
gunman who disguised as a mourner going for a burial in the state.
The command, in a statement by Mike Abattam, its spokesman,
said the deceased was among other gunmen intercepted by the force at a
checkpoint along Owerri/Onitsha road on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the suspects were travelling in
a convoy of three motorcycles and a bus bearing burial posters of one Bridget
Chine Nwadiozor.
The command said it stopped the procession for a routine
search and became suspicious when it noticed the burial date, October 22, was
long overdue.
It said in an attempt by officers to search the bus among
the convoy, one of the passengers tried to shoot at the police officer but was
killed.
It added that one of the suspects was arrested while the
others escaped during a shootout with the police.
“The suspected gunmen masquerading as persons mourning,
going for burial ceremony somewhere in the state, approached the Police check
point in a convoy of three motorcycles carrying two passengers on each,
alongside a passenger bus with registration number Anambra NNE 725 ZG carrying
passengers, and displaying in front of the bus, a belated burial poster of late
Mrs. Bridget Chine Nwadiozor dated 22/10/2021,” the statement reads.
“They were flagged down for routine search. On seeing the
date on the belated poster, the Police operatives became suspicious and alert.
“After searching the passengers on the motorcycles and
nothing incriminating was seen, they went to the bus.
“In the bid of searching the passengers in the bus, one of
them pulled out a Berretta Pistol and in an attempt to shoot at the police
operatives, he was neutralized, which led to a shootout.
“In the process, one of the suspects, Odedira Ezuala ‘m’
aged 23yrs, a native of Umudike Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, was arrested while
others including the motorcyclists escaped with bullet wounds.
“The following items
were recovered to the station, which includes: one Police Special Berretta
Pistol with breach No.90005 and 10 rounds of live ammunition. one Bus Imo with
Reg. No. Anambra NNE 725 ZG and a belated Burial Poster.
The police said the corpse of the deceased has been
deposited in a mortuary, while the arrested suspect is undergoing
interrogation.
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