AT least three persons, including two Policemen, and an unidentified woman were on Tuesday evening killed by unknown gunmen at UNIZIK junction, Awka, Anambra State.
The gunmen who were suspected to be cultists, blocked a red Toyota Corolla car being driven by a man identified as Snoop, who is also the leader of tricycle riders in Awka North and Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Reliable sources said Snoop was being accompanied by two armed policemen from the state Anti-Cult department when he was accosted, and that the two policemen lost their lives, while a woman who was passing by was hit by a stray bullet.
“Snoop himself was dragged out of his car and put in the trunk of the car driven by the assailants, while riffles belonging to the policemen were made away with,” the source said.
It was also gathered that heavy shooting at the Unizik junction area of the attack sent many people scampering for safety.
There have been heightened fear in Awka as a result of a proposed protest by members of the tricycle riders association, over a N4,000 levy being imposed on each tricycle riders in Awka North and Awka South Local Government Area, which was tagged Christmas party levy.
Some tricycle riders had protested the levy, and The Chief Convener of Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), Comrade Ositadimma Obi had stated that his group would join the tricycle riders on a protest on Wednesday.
There are fears that cult related clashed in Awka are mostly aggravated by tricycle riders, most of who have been said to involve in clashes.
The Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga confirmed the killing, saying that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Eworo has immediately called for discreet investigation into the matter, with a hope to apprehend those involved.
BY SUNNY A. DAVID
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