In a tragic incident, two policemen assigned to the Majority Leader of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Kingsley Ikoro, were ambushed and killed by unidentified gunmen in Okigwe, Imo State.
According to Vanguard, the attack occurred on Sunday, August 3, while the officers were traveling with the lawmaker’s convoy. A mechanical failure forced one of the vehicles to stop, causing the policemen to remain behind as the rest of the convoy proceeded. During this delay, the gunmen struck, killing the two officers.
Imo Police Respond to Incident
The Imo State Police Command confirmed the attack and the deaths in a statement on Monday, August 4. Spokesperson Henry Okoye vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice, stating:
“There is no hiding place for those behind this heinous crime. The bodies of the officers, who paid the supreme price in the line of duty, have been evacuated to the morgue. A thorough investigation is underway.”
Okoye added that tactical units have launched a manhunt in the surrounding bushland, assuring the public that the suspects will face the full force of the law. The Okigwe area is known as a hotspot for violent attacks in Imo State.
Related Incident: Former Lawmaker Abducted, Police Orderly Killed
In a related security concern, a former House of Representatives member, Hon. Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu, was recently abducted by suspected bandits between Nunku in Nasarawa State and Gwantu in Kaduna State. During the attack, the lawmaker’s police orderly was killed.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Community vigilantes and local youths reportedly repelled the attackers, preventing further destruction during a similar attack on June 17. Sources in Kogi State revealed that one suspect caught in connection with these attacks confessed to the crimes after nearly being lynched.
