Gunmen suspected to be behind Sunday morning’s deadly attack on a police patrol team in Imo State have appeared in a video, boasting about the operation and issuing threats against security personnel in the region.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that some gunmen attacked a team of police officers on duty at Finas Gas Station along the Okigwe-Umuahia Road in Imo State, killing one officer.
Meanwhile, another officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, was declared missing following the attack.
In the one-minute, 47-second video seen by SaharaReporters on Sunday evening, the assailants warned that they do not want to see any police officers, military personnel, or operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) around the Okigwe axis of the state.
They accused security forces in the area of engaging in extortion and extrajudicial killings.
The gunmen claimed they targeted the checkpoint because officers stationed there were allegedly extorting money from residents and blocking the road.
In the video, they displayed two firearms—one of which appeared to be an AK-47 rifle reportedly taken from the slain officer during the attack.
According to a police statement, the attack occurred around 9:00 a.m. when the team, led by an ASP identified as Casmir, was stationed near the Old Gariki area in Okigwe.
Police Constable Oluebube was shot and killed during the ambush, while his service firearm was taken by the assailants.
The police declared ASP Casmir and his AK-47 rifle missing, raising fears he might have been abducted.
According to the police, other officers from the team managed to return safely to base with their weapons and are receiving medical treatment.
“One PC Oluebube was killed in action and his smoke gunner carted away. ASP Casmir and his AK-47 rifle is missing. Other members of his team have returned to base with their rifles and are currently receiving medical care,” the statement said.
A manhunt has been launched to locate the missing officer, ASP Casmir, and recover his rifle, the police said.
