Hoodlums on rampage, shoot police, customs officers in Enugu

Armed hoodlums, on Thursday, shot police and customs officers on duty at various locations within Enugu State, leaving some of the officers feared dead.

The rampaging armed hoodlums attacked Ozalla community along the ever busy Enugu-Port Harcourt Road as well as Lomalida axis of Ugwuaji Road within Enugu metropolis.

The armed hoodlums attacked customs’ checkpoint within Ozalla community, precisely close to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, at about 1:30p.m. on Thursday.

The hoodlums opened fire on the unsuspecting customs officers, leaving one dead instantly as alleged by eye witnesses. Three other officers sustained serious bullet wounds.

“I saw one of the customs officers motionless and three others in serious pain as they were helped by some Good Samaritan down to the UNTH hospital close-by,” an eyewitness said.

In the incident at Lomalida axis of Ugwuaji Road, the hoodlums shot at policemen on stop-and-search duty, leaving two officers feared dead and about four others with deadly bullet wounds.

It was gathered that the incident, which happened at about 2p.m. left the Ugwuaji Road deserted of vehicular traffic for up to two hours.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said that “information surrounding the incident is sketchy”.

“Meanwhile, a manhunt for the hoodlums has been initiated. Further development will be communicated, please,” he said.

TheStar