FG condemns killings, abduction in Ebonyi State

The Federal Government, yesterday, condemned the killing of two policemen in Ebonyi State, saying those responsible for the killings, recorded their dastardly act and circulated it, would soon be apprehended and prosecuted.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, in a statement yesterday, described the killing of two policemen and abduction of three of them, as an unacceptable attack against the state.

We have credible information that ASP Francis Idoko, inspectors Emmanuel Akubo and Rufai Adamu, all serving officers of the Nigeria Police, were abducted by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), acting on the instructions of their leader, Chinonso Okafor on November 27, 2021.

He said: “Akubo and Adamu were killed in the most gruesome manner and their decapitated bodies videotaped and circulated widely. The leader of the ESN team that killed the two officers is one Chinonso Okafor, the most influential commander of ESN in charge of Imo and Anambra states.

Okafor, who is also known as ‘Gentle’ and all those who perpetrated the abhorrent act will be made to face justice,” he said.

Mohammed, who said the continued attacks on security agents as well as agencies of government were diametrically opposed to the call for political solution to the IPOB issue, wondered why those making such calls have yet to condemn the killing of the police officers.

MEANWHILE, the Ebonyi State Police Command confirmed that three officers were injured and two others missing when armed bandits numbering over 60 attacked their convoy in Effium, Ohaukwu Council of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state command, ASP Loveth Odah, confirmed that the police operatives were returning from investigation of the three missing engineers who were abducted in the area on November 3, 2021 on ring road site project when they were attacked.

She said the operatives were in the company of representative of Ohaukwu North Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Awo, who accompanied them to dialogue with the Ezza warriors at Igbuduoke village in Effium/Ezza Clan to avert further violence.