Gunmen whose motives are yet unclear are targeting policemen in Onitsha and environs. The pattern, which has emerged in the past few months, was highlighted by the Onitsha-based leading human rights group, Intersociety, while reacting to Sunday’s shooting, leading to instant death, of a policeman and a commercial motorcyclist, along Oguta Road and its adjoining Tasia Road in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State.

Intersociety in a statement signed by the Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chairman, and Head, Campaign and Publicity Department, Miss Chinenye F. Akubuilo, noted that the “shooting and killing were carried out by a three-man gang operating on a high speed motorcycle. The gang had accosted and opened fire on an armed policeman stationed in front of the gate of the Assemblies of God Church located on Oguta Road; killing him instantly after snatching his rifle. The three-man gang on a motorbike on getting to the nearby Tasia Road in their bid to escape, sighted a civilian Okada rider obstructing their escape route and shot him dead instantly before escaping.”

Intersociety described this as a pattern that has emerged of recent in the Onitsha axis and spoke of the consequences on the part of commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as okada riders. It said:

“Shooting, killing and snatching of duty rifles of policemen at checkpoints particularly in Onitsha and environs have intensified in recent months or since past three months. The attacks are carried out by usually two-man gang operating with motorbikes or Okada.

“According to an investigation carried out by Comrade Aloysius Attah, revisited by Intersociety, about six policemen and a civilian have lost their lives to this latest attack on policemen at checkpoints especially in Onitsha and environs in recent months.

“For instance, between late May and this August 2017, such attacks have taken place at Ugwu Nwanosike in Ogidi resulting to the death of a policemen with his rifle lost; Nkpor-Umuoji Road (same), Nkpor Down Flyover (same), Onitsha Upper Iweka Old TRACAS (two policemen killed and rifles lost) and Oguta Road by Assemblies of God Church Gate (one

policeman died and rifle lost). A civilian Okada rider also lost his life.

“As a result, all checkpoints mounted by security agencies particularly in Onitsha and environs including those mounted by soldiers, naval and police personnel have introduced hand-on-held and off ignition passage of their checkpoints by all motorcycle operators or private and commercial motorcyclists; whereby they are commanded to off their motorbikes’ ignition keys long meters before the checkpoints and same distances after the passage before they can switch on their ignition keys again.

“Our purpose of issuing this statement is in response to phone calls and other electronic messages and enquiries that have bombarded us in torrents. It is also to set the records straight so as to checkmate the habitual distortion of facts by the security agencies. The killing of policemen on duty under whatever guise or sentiments as well as all forms of resort to jungle justice are totally condemned and must be seriously checkmated using laid down processes and rule of law.”