By Stanley Nwanosike
Enugu – The Police in Enugu have recovered a service rifle snatched by suspected hoodlums, who, using a motorcycle, knocked down an officer along Amufie/Obollo Road in Igboeze North Local Government of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Monday that the hoodlums were overpowered in a gun duel with Police and members of a neighbourhood watch group.
Amaraizu said that the incident took place on June 6 at about 10 a.m. while the Police were on a stop-and-search duty.
“On that fateful day, Police operatives received a distress call about the alleged snatching of an unregistered Mate 50 motorcycle by yet to be identified hoodlums, said to be heading toward the direction of the Police check-point.
“The Police operatives later intercepted two motorcycles comprising one yet to be registered Mate 50 motorcycle and a Q-link motorcycle with registration number QE 173 RBC.
“As one of the Police operatives identified as Dennis Onyeke was interrogating the two riders, the one with Q-link motorcycle allegedly hit down the Policeman and escaped with his riffle while the other hoodlum ran into the bush.’’
The PPRO said that the hoodlum, who snatched the riffle, got fatally injured in the gun duel and the rifle was recovered from him.
“He was later rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead by a doctor on duty and the body deposited in the mortuary.’’
Amaraizu further said that the Police Command had commenced investigation into the matter.