Police, army clash in Abia

A policeman attached to Police Mobile Force (PMF 55), Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State is currently battling for his life in an undisclosed hospital.

The policeman whose name could not be immediately ascertained as at the time this report was said to have been hospitalized after he was allegedly hit in the chest during a crossfire between the army and police patrol team that stormed Ngwa High School Forward Operation Base (FOB).

The incident which was said to have lasted more than 30minutes caused pandemonium in the area as students, teachers inside the army base, shop owners and passersby within the area scampered for safety.
An unconfirmed report has it that the police personnel died on the spot but a military source denied, saying that the policeman was rushed to a hospital where he is receiving medical attention.

According to an eyewitness account, “the policeman was shot on his left chest causing him to use his back to land on the main road. About two mobile policemen where also taken into the army base after the army officers disarmed and collected their rifles from them.
” The military personnel after disarming them (policemen) started shooting into the air in attempt to empty the policemen’s magazine”.

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Joshiak Habila couldn’t pick his call, but Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke confirmed the incident.
Habila however couldn’t give much details about the incident as he told our correspondent that he was yet to be properly briefed.

But a military source who narrated the incident said “the policeman was wearing army camouflage and was passing in front of the base.”
” One of the soldiers at the gate accosted him and asked him why he was wearing the camouflage. He said he was a policeman and when he was asked to bring his ID card, he blatantly refused and in the heat of the argument, the policeman sprayed the hand teargas into the soldier’s eye which led to a physical combat.
“Some minutes after the issue was resolved, police patrol hilux loaded with mobile policemen from PMF55 was parked in front of the base and before you know what is happening, they started firing at the soldiers and the soldiers responded.

“The policeman only sustained injury and is receiving treatment in a hospital and the situation as we speak has been brought under control”.
The source who said both soldiers and policemen took it to the extreme said that they wouldn’t hesitate to institute investigation into the matter and would punish them accordingly.
The source also used the opportunity to reinstate their commitment to continue to work harmoniously with the police and other security agencies in Aba and the state at large.