Gunmen kill police sergeant in Imo, steal riffle

Less than 48 hours after gunmen murdered a Catholic priest, Rev Fr Jude Egbom, in Nkwerre town, Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo state, some gunmen struck again in Owerri killing  a police sergeant, identified as Christian Nnamani.

The gunmen, who were said to have made away with the AK47 riffle belonging to the slain cop, equally shot a passerby.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened around 9pm on Tuesday at Control post Roundabout junction, opposite Assumpta Catholic Church Owerri Arch Diocesan Cathedral headquarters.

A witness told our correspondent on Wednesday that some police officers were on a road duty when the gunmen struck.

Confirming the incident via the telephone on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP. Andrew Enwerem, said that after killing the sergeant, the criminals fled with his riffle.

The police spokesperson said that the passerby who was hit by a stray-bullet was rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where he was treated.

Enwerem said that the police had commenced investigation into the matter, saying the state commissioner of police, Dasuki Galadanchi, had ordered investigators to quickly arrest the fleeing killers.

The police spokesperson said “Yes, it is true; We lost a police sergeant last night (Tuesday). Sergeant Christian Nnamani attached to Mobile Police 18 Owerri, was a-stop-and-search duty with his colleagues at Control Post junction Owerri when the incident happened.”

“On sighting the sergeant who was the last guard man, the hoodlums who were in a green Golf car shot him dead and made away with his AK 47 riffle,” he said.