Policeman, civilian shot dead in Onitsha

Some people suspected to be gunmen on Sunday, shot dead a policeman and a civilian near Assemblies of God Church, Oguta Road, Onitsha, Anambra State.
An eyewitness said that the gunmen had stopped near the Church, adding that on sighting some policemen at the church, they opened fire on them.
The source also said the attackers made away with the rifle of the slain policeman.
“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,” he said.
The eye witness said he could not identify the number of armed men involved.
Another eyewitness said, “Gunmen on Okada (motorcycle) shot a policeman and collected his rifle.
They also shot dead an Okada man while escaping and the passenger he was carrying was injured.
The policeman was the one armed among his colleagues; they were providing security while church service was going on at Assemblies of God Church.
Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr Garba Umar, confirmed the incident.
Umar said it was not an attack on the church, adding that the gunmen took away a rifle belonging to the slain cop.
“My men were on patrol near the church when they were attacked by some gunmen. It was not an attack on the church in the real sense of it”, he said.