Tensions Mount in Anambra as Police Inspector is Fatally Shot by Alleged DSS Operatives During Stop-and-Search

 

An air of uncertainty has gripped the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State following a tragic incident that claimed the life of a police inspector during a routine stop-and-search operation along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway. The officer, a member of the 29 Police Mobile Force, Awka, reportedly lost his life in a confusing and sudden shootout that has now prompted an official police investigation.

The incident occurred late on Wednesday near the Danaks Filling Station in Uli, sending waves of panic through the surrounding community. Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene that erupted without warning, leaving local shop owners and passersby scrambling for safety as gunfire echoed across the area.

Details emerging from the scene suggest that the patrol team, which included the deceased officer, was conducting regular traffic checks along the expressway when they encountered a Toyota Sienna vehicle moving against the flow of traffic. The unmarked vehicle raised immediate suspicion among the patrol officers, who flagged it down for inspection.

Several bystanders reported that the occupants of the Sienna vehicle, believed to be operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), did not comply with the police instructions. Instead of submitting to a search, the operatives allegedly resisted and fired upon the police team. This sudden escalation resulted in the fatal shooting of one officer, who sustained gunshot wounds to his lower rib.

A local hawker, who witnessed the events unfold, described the moments leading up to the tragedy. “The Toyota Sienna came out of a small path and was clearly going the wrong way. The police flagged it down, but the people inside did not stop. Then everything just exploded into gunfire. It happened so fast that everyone around ran for their lives,” the witness recounted.

Following the shooting, the wounded officer was quickly transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala for emergency treatment. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi. However, efforts to save his life proved unsuccessful, as he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The Anambra State Police Command has officially acknowledged the incident and expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the officer's death. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, described the event as highly distressing and called for public patience as a comprehensive investigation unfolds.

According to Ikenga, preliminary findings indicate that the confrontation stemmed from a misidentification between the two security agencies. “The deceased officer was performing his lawful duties when he was fatally shot by operatives believed to be from a friendly force. The individuals were dressed in black attire and using an unmarked vehicle, which contributed to the confusion that led to the shootout,” he explained.

Efforts have since been made to de-escalate the tension between the involved parties. The case has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka, which has been tasked with conducting a discreet but thorough investigation to uncover what truly transpired.

The Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner Ikioye Orutugu, has urged the public to remain calm and assured residents that justice will be pursued. Protocols have also been initiated to prevent the recurrence of such fatal inter-agency misunderstandings.

As part of standard procedure, the body of the fallen officer has been deposited at a hospital morgue where an autopsy will be conducted. The Command has extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and pledged full support during this difficult time.

This incident marks the second tragic loss of a police inspector in the state within a short span. Just two weeks earlier, another inspector, Okolie Amechi, serving with the same Mobile Force 29 Squadron in Amansea, Awka, was accidentally shot dead by his 10-year-old son. The child had reportedly discovered and mishandled the officer's AK-47 rifle, which had been left unsecured.

The back-to-back tragedies have raised fresh concerns about operational safety, inter-agency coordination, and responsible weapon storage among security personnel. Community leaders and human rights advocates are now calling for transparent investigations and improved communication protocols between Nigeria’s various security outfits to avoid needless loss of life.