Unknown gunmen on Wednesday attacked Eziama Uli Health Centre in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State which left some patients with varying degrees of gunshot injuries in the process
Those wounded were among patients who converged on the health centre for a medical outreach when the gunmen struck
A source at the centre said the medical outreach was organized by a group, Uli Global Ambassadors for Development Initiative (UlIGADI) as part of the end of the year 2021 activities to reach out to the people of the area.
Residents of the town and patients had besieged the centre and were already receiving treatment when the gunmen stormed the area and shot sporadically at them.
The patients and medical personnel had taken to their heels as the action of the gunmen brought the exercise to an abrupt end even as patients and others scamper for safety.
However, by the time the dust of the pandemonium died down, a policeman was shot dead while another sustained life-threatening injuries
According to an official of ULIGADI who pleaded to be anonymous told newsmen that one policeman was killed, a second policeman was found still breathing when the gunmen left, but a third was yet to be found.
He said: “I don’t have much to say at the moment but I will discuss with the chairman to advise the house. One officer died after the unfortunate incident. The second officer is at the hospital receiving medical attention.
“We are looking for the third officer who has since left Eziama. The recovery team are underway to rescue him from the community”
Another source disclosed that the affected policemen were part of the team from 19 Police Mobile Force (PMF) and the name of the dead policeman was identified as Inspector Ezekiel Aliyu while the name of the injured police officer was not ascertained.
It was gathered that bullets pellets lodged in most parts of one of the policemen’s body, and was already recuperating in an undisclosed health facility.
Also, scores of persons, including patients were said to have sustained injuries during the attack.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu when contacted on phone confirmed the incident, stressing that the command was already on top of the situation to unravel the identity of the perpetrators.
He said: “What happened at Eziama Uli yesterday (Wednesday), is an example of the sacrifice we pay as Police Officers in service to the nation and humanity. The details of the incident are still sketchy but it involved police personnel providing security services.
“Police operatives have cordoned off the area and operation is ongoing. Further details shall be communicated.”
