Two cops were shot dead by suspected assailants at Uga roundabout, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra on Thursday.

 The gunmen said to be on a kidnap mission, were operating in the area when a team of policemen attached to a motorcade unaware of their presence ran into them.

The policemen were trying to clear the gridlock but the armed men who sensed danger, shot two of them dead and fled the scene after a duel following response from other cops.  

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, has directed an intensive manhunt for the assailants.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra Command, DSP Toochulwu Ikenga, who disclosed this in a statement, said the gunmen wore military camouflage.

Mr Ikenga said a police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas celebrations promptly responded to the scene.

He said a Lexus SUV the gang used, and an AK-47 rifle belonging to one of the slain policemen were recovered while an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle was recovered and defused.

According to him, they opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the motorcade they were escorting to clear traffic, other policemen returned fire forcing the bandits to flee.

 “The CP Aderemi Adeoye had declared the weekend and Christmas holidays as special working days for officers and men in the command. He commended the personnel for their tireless and courageous effort in securing the people of Anambra State. 

 “The CP has urged officers and men of Anambra State Police Command to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant, assuring that technology would be employed to track down the criminals who unleashed the attack on the cops,” he said.

Mr Ikenga stated that the CP urged personnel in the command not to be demoralised by the supreme price paid by their colleagues but draw inspiration from their bravery in confronting the criminal gang.

 The CP condoled with the families of the deceased officers and Enugu State Police Command and vowed that the personnel would not die in vain.

 Mr Adeoye called for calm and encouraged the people of Anambra not to allow the incident to create fear in their minds but to continue with various activities they had slated for the yuletide season.

(NAN)