A police inspector has reportedly been slain by gunmen in Imo State, south-east Nigeria.
When Augustine Ukegbu, a police officer, returned home to spend Easter with his family in his village of Umuoshike Ogbor in the state’s Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, he was shot and killed.
On Wednesday, SaharaReporters was informed by police sources that the victim had been abducted from his home upon returning from his base in Owerri. The victim was eventually discovered dead in a bush along Mbutu in the Aboh Mbaise LGA.
According to the source, Inspector Augustine Ukegbu, who was working at the Orji police divisional headquarters, returned home to Aboh Mbaise to celebrate Easter with his family. On April 8, at approximately 11 p.m., gunmen traveling in a Lexus jeep arrived and abducted.
“The abduction was reported at Oke Ovoro police Division. The jeep he was kidnapped with was later found abandoned along the Mbutu Road in Aboh Mbaise. Policemen visited the scene and the surrounding bush was searched and the inspector’s corpse was found.”
According to the source said that the inspector’s corpse had been deposited in a mortuary in the area by some police operatives and the Lexus jeep he was kidnapped in was recovered by his colleagues.
Another source, who was embittered by the killing of the cop, said that he saw the slain inspector in Owerri the day he was travelling to the village.
He said, “I saw Inspector Augustine in Owerri and he told me he was travelling to celebrate Easter with his family at Mbaise. We exchange pleasantries and I wished him journey mercy.
“He was serving at Orji police divisional and had served at the headquarters in Owerri. He was an operative of SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Department. I am saddened by his death.”
When contacted, the Command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye confirmed the incident, adding that an investigation into the kidnap and killing of the Inspector had been launched.
