Gunmen, Sunday, attacked police operatives who were returning from investigating the three missing engineers abducted on November 3, 2021.
Gunmen had kidnapped three engineers of Nelan Consultants engaged by the Ebonyi State Government in the construction of the Abakaliki Ring-Road Project.
The victims were abducted alongside their driver on November 3, 2021, at the Effium, Ohaukwu Local Government Area axis of the ring road.
Police Spokesperson, DSP Loveth Odah, who confirmed the abduction of the police officers, said on getting to Igbuduoke village in Effium/Ezza clan, they were ambushed and the hoodlums opened fire on them, injuring three policemen and kidnapping two.
In a statement by the Police, the injured officers and responding to treatment, while the state commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba, has ordered a manhunt to find the hoodlums.
“On 28/11/2021 at about 1340hrs while the Police Operatives were returning from investigation activities in connection with the three missing engineers who were abducted in the same area on the 3rd of November, 2021 while on ring road site project, they were attacked.
“The operatives were in the company of Hon. Chinedu Awo, a member Representing Ohaukwu North Constituency in the State House of Assembly, who accompanied the operatives to enable him to dialogue with the warriors at Igbuduoke village in Effium/Ezza clan ‘the warring community’ in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the State.
“They were ambushed by armed Ezza warriors numbering over sixty (60) who attacked them from all flanks but the operatives gallantry fought back, resulting in heavy casualties on the side of the attackers.
“However, DSP Bruno Chukwu and two others sustained bullet wound injuries and are currently responding to treatment, while two Police officers by name, Sergeant Donatus Osugwu and Sergeant Thaddeus Ugoeze are suspected to have been abducted by the hoodlums as they were discovered missing in action.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State Command CP. Aliyu Garba, led a convoy of about seven teams on reinforcement where they cordoned the forest and searched the village but could not see the missing officers nor the perpetrators.
“Efforts are in top gear to ensure the perpetrators are tracked down and arrested”, the statement reads.