Police deny church link in fatal Onitsha gun duel

Unknown gunmen are said to have shot and killed a policeman and several others on Saturday along Oguta road near the Assemblies of God Church axis in Onitsha, Anambra state.

The Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Princess Nkiru Nwode, denied the church link in a telephone interview, saying the Onitsha incident has nothing to do with the church.

She said the attack was on policemen who were on foot patrol along Oguta road.

According to her, the gunmen were disguised as masquerades to dispossess people of their belongings and in the process killed a police man and injured some others.

Earlier reports said that the gunmen had momentarily stopped at the Assemblies of God Church, but on sighting some policemen at the church, opened fire on them.

“When the firing became too hot, the policemen abandoned their patrol vehicle and ran away for safety. The gunmen moved to their patrol van and took a gun belonging to the policeman they killed,” the report stated.

“The gunmen moved to their patrol van and took a gun belonging to the policeman they killed.

“I saw two of the gunmen but I can’t say how many they are in number. an eyewitness said.