Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State has sent his deepest condolences to the families of security officers of Delta State Police Command killed by gunmen, describing them as patriots who died in the line of duty.
He commiserated with the families, saying he was very sad about the unfortunate incident in Anambra State.
The officers who died in the line of duty are Inspector Lucky Aleh; Inspector Celestine Nwadiokwu and Inspector Jude Obuh and were attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD Unit in Government House Asaba.
The unfortunate incident occurred around 1.30pm yesterday Friday, February 10, when they were killed by unknown gunmen along Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia on official duty.
Delta State Information Commissioner , Mr Charles Aniagwu narrated to journalists today how the sad incident happened, saying that the late officers would be greatly missed for their contributions to the peace and development of Delta State.
He described the killing as unfortunate and barbaric.
Said Aniagwu:
“We bring you the sad news of our very gallant officers who have helped us in maintaining peace in our state attached to the Explosives Ordinance Disposal EOD in Government House, Asaba.
“The officers met their untimely death while they were proceeding as advanced team for the PDP National Campaign Rally in Abia, unfortunately this particular team veered off from the convoy and took another route different from where the convoy was taking.
“They were ambushed along the Ihiala-Orlu Road enroute Umuahia by non-state actors who eventually killed three of them in police uniform while the one on mufti escaped.
“We have recovered their corpses and we have also reached out to their families,”
Aniagwu disclosed that the delay in announcing the death of the security officers was to first tell the families of the officers before making it public.
He therefore made a passionate appeal to the security agencies to fish out those responsible for the dastardly act.
He explained further :
“What is happening in parts of this country today, particularly in the South East, is not healthy for our development as a country because the elections are very very close.
“The security we are asking for are not just for the purpose of the elections. It is also something that everybody wants. We should be able to have security at every given time; that way, we would have development.
“We must also plead with our brothers and sisters who may have taken guns on the account of what they see as agitation to know that the best way to help our people, is to allow peace to reign. That way development will take place in the South East.
“Our people in the South East are very very industrious, they are commerce oriented and have developed love for one another over the years.
“We will plead with these our brothers to allow this kind of love that permeated the atmosphere in the time past in the South East, to continue to pervade that environment.
“That way, they are able to ensure that government will bring development to them and also able to ensure that private sector investments would thrive.
“It is unfortunate that these our gallant officers, just like many others have also lost their lives in the past, have lost their lives on account of the activities of individuals who describe themselves today as ‘unknown gunmen’.
“We are pleading with them to sheath their swords and begin to allow that love of which the people of the South East have been known for over the years. So that as a people, we will continue to coexist..
Aniagwu prayed that God would accept the souls of the gallant police officers.
Aniagwu said that government was with the families of the dead officers in this trying period, adding that government would do all within its power to bring the culprits to justice.
