Hoodlums attacked, injured 2 Policemen, escaped with rifles, not SCID – Abia Police
From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia
The Abia State Police Command has debunked media reports that its Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Umuagu Ibeku, Umuahia, was attacked last night.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, however, told newsmen in Umuahia Thursday that operatives of the Command who were on stop-and-search duty near the SCID were attacked by yet-to-be- identified hoodlums who wounded two Policemen and took away their rifles.
“The State CID office was not attacked, but those on stop-and-search duty in front of the Umuagu Office of the State CID, on Uzuakoli Road, Umuahia,” Ogbonna said.
According to the PPRO, the Command was pleading for information, as investigations into the incident have commenced. No arrest has been made, Ogbonna said.
There were reports making the rounds on social media Wednesday night that gunmen invaded the SCID located along Uzuakoli Road in Umuahia. The reports also alleged that the armoury was invaded and three policemen injured.
Another account said that about 8:30 p.m on Wednesday, some fleeing gunmen attacked the police team. According to the unconfirmed report, “the gunmen had probably robbed someone, somewhere and were escaping when they encountered the police team.”
The source alleged that the team had abandoned a vehicle they snatched from a victim and fled with another vehicle before they encountered the police.
“The area was still calm after the incident. However, businesses around there closed immediately residents heard the cracks of firearms last night,” the source added.
The state CID was last year attacked by unknown gunmen who burnt the facility and released detainees.
