By Emma Ogbuehi
The Nigerian Army went a notch in confronting the insecurity in the South East by killing three of the gunmen who attacked a police checkpoint in Anambra State, last Thursday. A policeman however lost his life in the operation.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, who confirmed this in a statement on Saturday, explained that the gunmen had attacked the police checkpoint on the Okija-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday before troops attached to Sector 5 of Exercise Golden Dawn arrived at the scene.
Nwachukwu stated; “The gallant troops engaged and overwhelmed the gunmen with superior firepower, forcing them to flee the scene. Troops gave them a hot pursuit, and engaged the gunmen in a gun duel.
“The three gunmen, who drove in two vehicles – Hilux and hummer bus – eventually succumbed to troops’ effective firepower, while others fled with gunshot wounds.
“Unfortunately, a policeman paid the supreme price, in the line of duty, for his country.”
He added that the soldiers also recovered a vehicle and two motorcycles while conducting a further search of the general area for the fleeing armed men.
In appreciation, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya, commended the troops for the feat and urged them to sustain the momentum against all criminal elements operating in the South-East.
He also sympathised with the family of the slain policeman and prayed for the repose of his soul.
South East has of late been enveloped in a cloud of insecurity, occasioned by the murderous activities of unknown gunmen. Dr. Chike Akunyili, Consultant surgeon and husband of erstwhile Director General of the National Agency for Food, Administration and Control (NAFDAC), late Prof Dora Akunyili, was among the latest high profile victims of the faceless hoodlums.