There was tragedy, yesterday, when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along Ogor-Evwreni axis of the East West road, in Delta State, shot dead a police officer and carted away his AK-47 service rifle.
The slain police officer, identified as Jude Ukpaka, was attached to the Dragon 19 unit of the Ughelli Area Command, in Ughelli North Local Council of the state. The Guardian learnt that the incident happened late Wednesday evening when the police officers, numbering about five, were manning a checkpoint along the route.
It was reported that the officers were suddenly taken unawares by the gunmen, who opened fire on them and Ukpaka was killed on the spot, while the other officers ran into the swamp behind their operational vehicle.
The gunmen shattered the door and glasses of the operational vehicle as they opened fire on the escaping police officers, who were later rescued from the swamp. According to reports, the gunmen had earlier attacked travellers returning from Bayelsa in the morning of same day before the police officers were attacked in the evening at same spot.
The Delta State Police Command was yet to react to the incident, while several calls put across to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, were unanswered.
