Abia State Police Command has confirmed the death of one of its officers, ASP Edet Udoulo in the ambush which was mounted by hoodlums against a police patrol team in the Ohafia axis on Wednesday.
This is even as the Command has disclosed that the Commissioner of Police Abia State, CP Danladi Isa, personally led a rescue operation to the area in a bid to apprehend the hoodlums who ambushed and attacked officers on patrol duty at about 07:30hrs.
This was contained in a press release issued on Wednesday night by ASP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Abia Command, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
According to the press release, the hoodlums were unable to withstand the firepower of the police officers and fled the scene after their attack was repelled.
“During the operation led by the CP, ASP Etim Obungha was successfully rescued unhurt.
“Corporal Chukwu Odoemelam, who sustained bullet injury during the attack, was promptly rushed to the hospital and is currently responding to treatment.
“Tragically, the body of ASP Etet Uboulo who did not survive the earlier attack was recovered.
“In the course of the operation, some exhibits were recovered from the crime scene and investigation is ongoing with the view to tracking down the hoodlums.
“Watertight security measures have been emplaced as tactical teams, operatives from Ohafia Area Command in collaboration with the army component from 14 Brigade, Ohafia are currently on patrol in the area.”
According to the press release, the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa has assured the Abia people that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be apprehended to face justice, even as he urged the public to report any suspicious person with bullet wounds or strange vehicles to the nearest Police Station.