An official of the Anambra Traffic Management Agency (ATMA) was on Tuesday in Awka, shot by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, in a statement confirmed the incident and identified the victim as one Mr Chinedu Onwuka.
Tochukwu said that the hoodlums were sighted at Ekwulobia-Umunze road where they tried to disarm a team of police personnel but were fiercely resisted with superior firepower.
He said that the gunmen shot sporadically in a bid to escape and their bullet hit the traffic official and killed him instantly.
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According to him, the police command today embarked on intensive patrol around the state with the aim of apprehending suspected hoodlums on Ekwulobia, Umunze road.
“The Patrol team comprises Mobile Police Operatives, counter terrorist unit, special forces, conventional police officers and among others.
“Preliminary information reveals that the hoodlums, in an attempt to disarm a mobile Police officer on patrol, started shooting sporadically.
“The Mobile Police Officers returned fire immediately, engaged the hoodlums which made the gunmen flee the scene.
“The hoodlums, escaped from the scene while shooting sporadically got to Nkwo Umuchu Junction where a bullet hit one Mr Chinedu Onwuka, 30-years old attached to Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency, Aguata Unit,” he said.
The spokesperson, however, said that calm had returned to the area and further details would be communicated after investigation.(NAN)