Gunmen have killed a female police officer identified as Chinyere Obilor.
The slain sergeant was cut in an exchange of crossfire when criminals ambushed them at Ihitte junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state on Owerri- Aba Road while on a duty on Wednesday.
Also killed was a yet to be identified person said to be a civilian.
The female cop was attached to the Highway Patrol team of the state police command.
A Source who doesn’t want to be mentioned told our correspondent that the criminals operated in a commercial vehicle popularly known as Busimo.
The source said that the vehicle which was abandoned by the attackers had been recovered by the police.
Her colleagues cried when her lifeless body was brought back as many described her as a decent police officer.
A source said ” the woman was dedicated to her duties. She was killed in a gun battle when criminals ambushed them at Ihitte junction on Owerri- Aba Road. She was from Mgbidi in Imo. A mother of four children who was very cheerful is gone. This is so painful.
“She was attached to the Highway Patrol Team Unit. The hoodlums abandoned their vehicle( Busimo) which they came in with. It has been recovered and brought to Owerri.”
The spokesperson for the Police in the state, Henry Okoye, promised to get back to our reporter as at time of filling this report.
Police begin manhunt
The Imo State police command on Thursday disclosed that it had commenced a manhunt for the killers of the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Umuchoke Okwe in Onuimo Local Government Area of the state, Christian Ihim, and a female police sergeant, Chinyere Obilor.
Gunmen had on Tuesday night invaded Ihim’s house in Onuimo, killed him and kidnapped six others believed to be members of the APC.
Reacting to the developments, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Henry Okoye, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, confirmed the murder cases and said that the police were on the trail of the suspects.
On the killing of the APC ward chairman, Okoye said that the police had deposited his corpse in a morgue.
According to him, operatives of the command visited the scene of the crime, recovered the corpse and deposited it in a mortuary.
On the killing of the female sergeant, the police spokesperson said that she was killed in a gun duel when some criminals attacked them at Aba Road in Owerri.
Okoye said ” the killing of the APC ward chairman happened. Some criminals attacked him in his house on February 25 and killed him. Our men in Onuimo visited the scene, recovered the corpse and deposited it in a mortuary.
“Investigation has commenced with a view to arresting the fleeing killers. We are not resting on our oars, as we are committed to making sure that Imo is secured.”
On the killing of the female Police sergeant, the police spokesperson said ” yes it happened. A female police sergeant was killed in a hot gun battle. The criminals attacked our personnel at Aba Road.
“The criminals abandoned one of their vehicles which we have recovered. The commissioner of police in Imo State solicits the support of all residents and indigenes of Imo State in fighting criminal elements. Anybody with useful information can dial the command’s emergency numbers for prompt attention.
“I assure you that we are on the trail of the perpetrators of the premeditated murder. We are doing our best to rid off the state of criminal elements.”
