The Anambra State Police Command says Wednesday’s shooting in Nnewi, was not meant to disrupt the burial of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, made this known on Thursday in Awka.
He said the shooting came from another security agency that mistook the police officers for hostile forces and opened fire on them.
“The command is aware of the shooting incident that took place at Izuchukwu Junction, Nnobi/Nnewi Road by 7 pm on Wednesday, where security operatives mistook the police operatives as unfriendly forces and opened fire at them.
“We emphasise that the attack on the operatives was not from non-state actors or any attempt to disrupt the burial of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah,” he said.
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Ikenga added that initial reports indicated that the security officers took out a suspect at a security checkpoint before the gun duel took place.
“Unfortunately, the bullets hit the fuel tank of the Toyota Venza carrying the men and it was flattened. Two innocent passersby were injured and they have been taken to the hospital,” the police spokesman stated.
He therefore sued for calm to allow for investigations into the incident, revealing that a joint security team had been deployed to Nnewi to ensure the town remains calm throughout the burial ceremonies of the late senator.
The late Sen. Ubah died in London in July at the age of 52 and would be buried November 22, 2024 at his home, Otolo, Nnewi.
