An Anambra Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) official was in Awka shot by yet-to-be-identified gunmen on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu, in a statement, confirmed the killing and identified the victim as Chinedu Onwuka.

Mr Tochukwu said the hoodlums were sighted at Ekwulobia-Umunze road, where they tried to disarm a team of police personnel but were resisted.

He mentioned that the gunmen shot sporadically in a bid to escape, and their bullet hit the traffic official, who died instantly.

According to him, the police command embarked on intensive patrol around the state to apprehend suspected hoodlums on Ekwulobia, Umunze road.

“The patrol team comprises mobile police operatives, counter-terrorist unit, special forces, conventional police officers and among others. Preliminary information reveals that the hoodlums, in an attempt to disarm a mobile police officer on patrol, started shooting sporadically,” said the police statement.

It added, “The mobile police officers returned fire immediately, engaged the hoodlums who made the gunmen flee the scene. The hoodlums escaped from the scene while shooting sporadically, got to Nkwo Umuchu junction, where a bullet hit one Mr Chinedu Onwuka, 30-years old attached to Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency, Aguata Unit.”

Calm had returned to the area, and further details would be communicated after investigations, added the police spokesman.

(NAN)