BY OKEY MADUFORO AWKA
Normalcy cannot be said to have fully returned in Anambra state after the two weeks of end SARS protest in the area following fresh alarm raised yesterday by the Police Commissioner Mr John Abang that the lives of Officers and men are in danger.
The Commissioner further lamented that as a result of the attack and killing of police men the moral of the officers and men has been low in the discharge of their lawful duties.
This is coming as the command paraded seventeen suspects in connection with the burning of eleven police formations in the state.
According to Abang who spoke to reporters in Awka he said.” As I speak with you now officers and men of the command are still being hunted and most of them living with members of the Public cannot go home for fear of being attacked by people.
We cannot even drive police vehicles around the town because you do not know who or those after us . So we have chosen to take proactive steps pending when we are sure that our safety can be assured.
Abang further confirmed that four police officers including the Divisional Police Officer of Osumanyi, Station Officer of Osumenyi and an Inspector attached to the Anti Cult unit were killed by the hoodlums.
“The Inspector Mr John Oche was beheaded by the hoodlums during the end SARS protest.
He noted that despite the efforts of the hoodlums the command was able to protect other police formations such as the Area Command Onitsha, Ogidi, Awada , CPS Onitsha inland town and police B Division Awka.
He also said that weapons recovered from the arrested hoodlums include AK 47 rifles stolen from the Ogbunike Division.
Abang confirmed that the seventeen suspects were arrested at Ololo Nnewi, Ihala, Awka South,
adding that some of them are from Abia and Ebony states respectively.
Meanwhile the three major prisons in the state namely Onitsha, Awka and Ekwulobia are still under tight security by the joint tax force of all the security operatives in the state.
Gov Willie Obiano has also lifted the curfew in the state and ordered private and Public schools to reopen and Public servants to return to work immediately.
