Kehinde Fajobi
The Abia State Police Command has launched a manhunt for gunmen who ambushed and killed one of its officers, Inspector Bala Mohammed, while on duty on Sunday night.
In a statement released on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, ASP Maureen Chinaka said the attackers struck near the Umuahia South Local Government Area Secretariat in Ubakala after the officers had escorted a member of the House of Representatives, Ginger Onwusibe.
“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,” Chinaka said
The officers were travelling in a police Toyota Hilux vehicle after dropping off the lawmaker when the assailants, dressed in black attire and operating a Toyota Corolla with tinted windows, intercepted them and opened fire.
“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,” Chinaka added.
The police said tactical teams had been deployed to track the fleeing attackers, and an investigation is underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
This ambush follows another violent attack last Wednesday when gunmen killed two soldiers at an army checkpoint in Ekenobizi, Umuopara, further escalating security concerns in Abia State.