A traffic official was shot dead by gunmen at Ekwulobia in Aguata local government area of Anambra State.
The official was killed during a gun battle between the police and some hoodlums in the town.
The hoodlums invaded the town in two different vehicles.
The deceased, an officer of the Anambra Traffic Management Agency (ATMA), was controlling traffic at the busy Ekwulobia junction when he was shot from behind.
An eyewitness said the bullet shattered the victim’s brain.
“The gunmen were travelling in in two vehicles and they shot the man during an exchange of fire. They later left and similar gunshots were heard at Oko.”
The spokesperson of the state police command, Mr Ikenga Tochukwu, said the hoodlums shot sporadically to disarm a Mobile Police officer on patrol who .quickly returned fire which made the gunmen to flee the scene.
The PPRO said “the Anambra State Police Command has embarked on a patrol around the state to apprehend suspected hoodlums sighted along Ekwulobia – Umunze road.
“The patrol has a comprehensive operational asset of the command which comprise Mobile Police Operatives, Counter Terrorist Unit, Special Forces, Conventional Police Officers, among others
“Preliminary information obtained along Umunze road showed that the hoodlums in an attempt to disarm a mobile Police officer on patrol started shooting sporadically.
“The Mobile Police Officer returned the fire immediately, engaged the hoodlums, which made the gunmen to flee the scene.”
