Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Gunmen have beheaded a police officer in Abia State and have carted away his rifle.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Geoffrey Ogbonna, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, identifying the victim simply as Linus Ominyi.
He said the gunmen attacked a police team at Ndiegoro, Aba in Aba South Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.
It was gathered that other officers fled the scene after briefly engaging the gunmen in a shoot-out.
However, Ominyi, an assistant superintendent of police, who was with other officers was captured before the gunmen took away his rifle and uniform after beheading him.
The victim, otherwise known as Agbalagba hailed from Ebonyi State, another state in the South-east, but resided in Abia State where he served as an officer.
According to residents, the beheading of the officer might have been in retaliation for the killing of a gunman by the police on 13 April in the area.
“The hoodlums, armed with fire-arms, machetes, and other dangerous weapons shot dead and beheaded the patrol and guard officer, ASP Linus Ominyi; made away with his head and AK 47 rifle breech number 56404021 with fifteen (15) rounds of 7.62mm life ammunition,” the police spokesman said.
“Remains of the headless deceased officer were recovered and deposited in the morgue for preservation while the manhunt for the perpetrators of the dastardly act has been launched with a view to recovering the severed head of the deceased officer as well as the snatched service rifle.
“The Abia State Police Command therefore, requests from law-abiding members of the public credible information on the perpetrators or on anyone found in possession of a firearm unlawfully obtained with firm assurance of protecting his/her identity.”
