1 July 2009
Lagos — No fewer than five policemen were yesterday killed in Abia State as kidnappers attempting to abduct expatriates working for 7 Up Bottling Company in Aba, the commercial city of the state instead opened fire on the policemen in addition to setting their vehicle ablaze.
The Second in command of the Aba Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abayomi Oladipo, who confirmed the sad incident while briefing the Abia State Police Commissioner who visited the area explained that the policemen never had any opportunity of escaping or returning fire as they died instantly.
Eye witness account disclosed that the five policemen including an Assistant Superintendent, a Sergeant, two Corporals and a Constable were escorting a vehicle belonging to the bottling company when the kidnappers attacked them at about 8a.m
It was gathered that the gang had laid ambush at a car wash near the company's office near Chief Ubani Road, Umuola Egbelu autonomous community in Aba North Local Government area after ascertaining that the vehicle conveying the expatriates for the resumption of the day's work was on its way.
It was gathered that no sooner had the vehicle arrived the spot than the gang opened fire on both the police vehicle and the car conveying the expatriates killing the five policemen instantly and removing their rifles before setting the patrol vehicle ablaze.
Eye witness account said that upon the discovery that no expatriates were inside the vehicle the gang attempted to gain entrance into the bottling company but were dissuaded by the mobile policemen guarding the complex.
Oladipo explained that the fire on the police vehicle was put off by people around the area before the policemen could be totally burnt adding that the rifles were removed before the vehicle was set ablaze and that no arrest had been made.
He said that following the incident, detectives from the area had been placed on the red alert to ensure that they bring the perpetrators to book within the shortest possible time.
He lamented that the slain policemen were from a nearby police station and that the escorting of the vehicles and personnel belonging to bottling company had been a long standing thing before the incident happened and that the corpses had been removed to the mortuary.
Not less than 5000 expended AK47 automatic rifle shells were scattered all over the place, while shops and other businesses within the area were abandoned following the incident.
A source at the bottling company who spoke on the condition of anonymity explained that they had no inkling that such a calamity was about to befall the police and that the gang had mixed up with the local people.
The source maintained that it took a shoot out between the mobile policemen inside the company to force the gang to escape after their failed attempt to enter the premises in search of the expatriates.
The police commissioner, Edgar Tam Nanakumo who was visibly angry over the sad incident described it as very unfortunate but said he was yet to get all the details about the attack.
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