Delta Police Officer Killed In Exchange Of Fire; 8 Suspects Arrested

The Nigerian Army has arrested eight men in connection with the murder of a police superintendent in Asaba, Delta.

DSP Sunday Okoebor was killed in an exchange of gunfire Tuesday morning, Colonel Ibrahim Gambari confirmed. Two gunmen were shot dead.

"At about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, we received information that criminals were operating at Koka junction area in Asaba," Gambari said, Punch reported. "Our troops and Delta Hawk moved to the area and on getting there, we had an encounter with the criminals. In the process, two of the criminals were shot but the suspects had already killed DSP Sunday Okoebor attached to the Delta State Police Command while other suspects escaped with a pump action."

The army officials raided the area and initially detained 125 people.

"The soldiers, again mobilized to the criminals' hideout early in the morning where 125 others were arrested and out of which eight of them were identified by residents as those who have been robbing them of their properties and terrorizing their areas," he said.

Pistol guns, laptops, jewelry, phones and other electronic gadgets were recovered from the eight men. The suspects will be handed over to the police department.

Gambari said the army will continue its "Operation Still Water" to ensure that the environment is safe and peace is maintained in the area.

Just one day before this incident, two police officers and a civilian were killed in Imo after unidentified gunmen opened fire at Ahiara Junction in Ahiazu Mbaise local government area, during newly appointed police commissioner Aboki Danjuma's visit.

Henry Okoye, a spokesperson for Imo Police, said a manhunt was launched for the gunmen.

Last week, a group of armed men kidnapped the traditional ruler of the Otulu autonomous community in Imo and killed him. Eze Achulor's body was found Saturday night on Mbutu Road in Aboh-Mbaise local government area.

Kidnappings and murders have become very common in Nigeria. In another incident that took place last week, unidentified gunmen murdered the Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) Ife/Akpodim/Chokoneze ward chairman, Smith Chiedoziem Anyanwu.