TheCable

Two armed who have been terrorising Onitsha and its environs, on Monday killed two policemen and escaped with one AK47 rifle.

A witness said the armed men, who rode on motorcycle, took the policemen unaware and shot them at close range near Tracas junction, Upper Iweka axis of Awada, near Onitsha.

The source, who pleaded anonymity, said one of the policemen, an inspector, was rushed to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, but later died.

According to the source, the other police officer, a sergeant, died on the spot.

The deceased officers were on patrol when they met their untimely death.

The incident forced people around the area to close their shops.

Contacted, Yahaya Abubakar, police area commander, Onitsha,  who confirmed the incident, said he could not speak on the matter because it occurred at Awada, an area outside his command.

Efforts to get details of the incident from Nkeiru Nwode, state police public relations officer, were not successful.

This is the fourth of such attacks on police officers in Onitsha and its environs since January.