In a chilling development that has left the city of Enugu in shock, two police officers were brutally murdered in a checkpoint attack. The incident occurred on the night of Friday, May 10, 2024, around 9.30 P.M. The officers, who were serving in Ogui Division, were conducting a stop-and-search operation along Presidential Road, Enugu.
The assailants, suspected to be armed members of IPOB/ESN, were operating in three SUV jeeps. The operatives returned fire, forcing the hoodlums to escape with varying degrees of gunshot wounds. In the aftermath of the attack, a Lexus RX 300 jeep with Reg. No. KTU 991 FD was recovered.
This incident is not an isolated one. It comes barely a week after two policemen and three vigilante operatives, known as Neighbourhood Watch Group, were killed in another attack by a gang of rampaging hoodlums in Igga community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State.
The state has been grappling with a surge in violent attacks, particularly against security personnel. The recent spate of violence has raised questions about the effectiveness of the current security measures and the need for a more robust response.
In response to the escalating violence, Governor Peter Mbah has placed a ₦10 million bounty on the killers. He made this announcement during a State Security Council meeting at the Government House, Enugu. The meeting was attended by top security officials, including Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu; Director, State Security Services, Theresa Egbunu; Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Brigadier General Murtala Abu; and the State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Peter Ogar.
Governor Mbah has vowed to use every resource at the state’s disposal to bring the culprits to justice. He also called on members of the public to be on the lookout for the criminals and report any suspicious activities to the security agencies.
As Enugu mourns the loss of its brave officers, the question on everyone’s mind is: when will the reign of terror end? Only time will tell if the measures put in place will be enough to restore peace and security in the state.
