Two policemen were on Sunday morning shot at Agbaja village in Abatete community of Idemili North Local Government Area following the deployment of operatives of Agunechemba Security Outfit to stop a proposed stakeholders meeting.
Agbaja Civil Hall was the proposed venue for a stakeholders meeting to be hosted by Hon. Ifeanyi Ibezi, a former lawmaker, who planned to use the opportunity to declare his intention to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency.
Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, had on Saturday warned against holding the meeting, stating that the venue was unsafe. He threatened to arrest anyone who honoured the meeting.
The chairman made good his threat on Sunday before the commencement of the event by deploying security men to the area, who eventually shot two policemen, suspected to be attached to Ibezi.
Ibezi, who later spoke to journalists, said it was an attempt to assassinate him as the men shot directly at him before the policemen with him were gunned down.
He said: “Two of my security men were shot and wounded. They have been taken to the hospital and are currently in the theatre.
“I was to hold a meeting in the hall today, and I wrote to stakeholders of Idemili North and South for a meeting today to discuss my aspiration to return to the House of Representatives. Everything was in place until I saw a purported letter on WhatsApp claiming I could not use the facility.
“By about 6 a.m. today, I got a call that a contingent of armed men had cordoned off the premises. When I arrived, I was confronted by security operatives and local vigilantes who said they were acting on the instruction of the local government chairman to stop the event.
“I immediately contacted the State Director of the Department of State Services, the Commissioner of Police, and other relevant authorities, in
cluding the governor. While I was on the phone, the shooting continued.
“It was in the course of the shooting that two of my policemen were shot. We have video evidence of everything that happened.
“I told my men to remain calm, not to respond or engage them. I am a law-abiding citizen and will not take the law into my hands.
“As of this morning, I have not been able to reach the mayor, and he has not returned my calls. The governor is aware and is making efforts to reach him too,” Ibezi stated.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident through the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga. He said he was aware of the event and also the shooting, but added that the details were still sketchy.
By David-Chyddy Eleke
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