By Christopher Isiguzo
Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday led an operation that smashed a group of dare-devil gunmen that literally held the capital city hostage for hours as they engaged in a shooting spree along major streets, killing a bus driver and snatching several vehicles.
The governor who led a team of policemen had cordoned off major exit routes within the metropolis, making it difficult for the gang to flee. The situation led to a gun duel between the rampaging gunmen and the security operatives as they were restricted within the Independence Layout area near the Government House.
They had virtually ransacked major areas of the town beginning from the New Market area, to Edinburgh/Obiagu/New Layout where the bus driver identified as Ayaka was gunned down at a drinking joint.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police (SP) Ebere Amaraizu said the armed hoodlums numbering four had held Edinburgh axis to a standstill shooting sporadically before the operatives of the command acting on the report swooped on them.
“On observing the police operatives, the armed hoodlums tried to escape through various routes known to them but could not as all the
areas had been locked up and which made the hoodlums who had earlier snatched a Hilux van belonging to one of the tertiary institutions in
the state from the driver and headed towards Bisalla (Independence Avenue) road axis of the state, where the police operatives of the
command engaged them in a serious gun duel.
“The gun duel which ensued forced hoodlums to abandon the said van and escaped into a compound surrounded by bush within the Bissala road axis of the state. The operatives not relenting pursued the hoodlums to the compound and later traced them into one of the room ceiling of a house in the compound where gun duel ensued and which led to the death of one of the hoodlums and leaving three of the hoodlums fatally injured and arrested.
“Recovered from the hoodlums are two AK47 RIFFLE with double magazines. Meanwhile, investigations into the incident have commenced
just as the state commissioner of police Emmanuel Ojukwu has applauded the effort of the operatives of the command leading to the arrest of the four of the armed hoodlums and recovering their arms.
“The injured police officer Sgt Kingsley Chuwuamago from the Special Anti Robbery Squad Enugu who was knocked down by the second vehicle of the hoodlum as he started engaging them at Mkpokiti Enugu is responding positively,” he said.
