ABAKALIKI- EBONYI State Police Command, Thursday, confirmed the demise of a police corporal, Mr. Felix Nwaokolo, while another was said to have been shot and wounded during a clash between two rival cults in Community Secondary School, Oshiegbe, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP John Eluu, who disclosed this at a briefing stated that the unfortunate incident occurred when a team of police officers deployed to quell the squabble between the two groups were ambushed by suspected cultists.
According to him, “on approaching the scene of the clash, the cult group laid ambush for the police and opened fire, killing a corporal, while a constable sustained gun shot in the arm. The wounded constable is currently receiving treatment in a nearby hospital.”
He stated that no fewer than 11 suspected members of the cult group had been arrested by the police, adding that those arrested were currently being interrogated to ascertain the where about of the rest of the cult members.
He said: “Ebonyi State Police Command has been relatively calm but yesterday, we received information of a squabble between two rival cults, which resulted in a clash between the two students of Community Secondary School, Oshiegbe, Umuezokoha, Ezza North Local Government Area of the state.
“The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Ezza North on receiving the information sent a patrol team to quell the clash, but just as the team entered Oshiegbe, gunmen from nowhere opened fire on the police team and shot dead a police constable, Corporal Felix Nwaokol’ while Daniel Obome received bullet wounds.
“On receiving the information, the DPO Ezza North had to send an Armored Personnel Carrier APC, while some patrol teams were also mobilized to the area.
“Right now, the place is now deserted and the situation has now been brought under control. Meanwhile, 11 suspects have been arrested.”
Eluu said there was no casualty on the part of the gunmen, pointing out that further investigation was still being conducted to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the cult clash..
VANGUARD NIGERIA
