Policeman Goes Berserk, Kills Five Persons, Injures Four in Enugu

* Ugwuanyi promises to pay hospital bills of victims

Ejiofor Alike

There was pandemonium yesterday at therddrdrf Golf Estate area in Enugu as an unidentified police officer went berserk and killed five persons

The officer; a Police Inspector attached to Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9, Umuahia, Abia State, who opened fire on the people on sight, also injured four others.

The remains of the dead ones have been deposited to Parklane General hospital, while the medical officers were battling to save others that were badly injured.

The Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has also visited the victims at the hospital and promised to pay all the hospital bills.

Confirming the ugly incident, Enugu Police command Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe said in a statement that the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu, had ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (State CIID), to carry out thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting incident.

The incident, according to the statement, occurred yesterday at about 0930hrs in the Golf Estate area of Enugu.

The statement noted that a Police Inspector attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9, Umuahia, Abia State, who was on duty at RC Lotto Company located in the Estate carried out the shootings

Ndukwe also said that the officer “has been arrested and taken into custody pending the conclusion of investigation.”

“The Commissioner, who made the order after visiting the hospital where four of the persons said to have sustained gunshot injuries are receiving treatment and five others whose injuries were critical, have been confirmed dead by doctors on duty and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy; also ordered the swift conclusion of the investigation to aid further necessary actions by the Police.”

While sympathising with the family and friends of the victims and urging them to remain calm, cooperate with the command in the ongoing investigation, also, “called on eye witnesses at the scene of the incident to volunteer useful information that will aid the thorough and swift conclusion of the investigation, in view of ensuring that justice prevails.

Meanwhile, Ugwuanyi has also visited the survivors in the hospital where he promised to offset the hospital bills of the ones receiving treatment.

Ugwuanyi was received at the hospital by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mohammed Ndatsu Aliyu and the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Hyacinth Onah.

According to a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Chidi Aroh, the governor expressed shock over the dastardly act.

The governor empathised with the victims and wished them quick recovery while condoling with families of the deceased.

He equally charged the hospital management to ensure that victims receive adequate medical attention.