Matilda Omonaiye/
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has expressed shock over the killing of five persons by a trigger happy police officer, who opened fire on a group of residents in the state capital yesterday morning.
The shooting also left four others critically injured, according to reports.
Ugwuanyi, who spoke through one of his media aides, Mr Louis Amoke, described the incident as “sad’’ and “unfortunate’’.
The governor, during a visit to the survivors of the attack at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, also promised that the state government would offset their medical bills.
He said that government had already deposited some money with the hospital to ensure that all that was required to treat the patients would be made available.
Ugwuanyi charged the hospital management to ensure that the victims received adequate medical attention.
“I empathise with the victims and wish them quick recovery. I also condole with families of the deceased over this unfortunate incident,’’ he further said.
Ugwuanyi was reportedly received at the hospital by the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, and the Chief Medical Director of the facility, Prof. Hyacinth Onah.
The Commissioner of Police had earlier condemned the incident in a statement by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer; ASP Daniel Ndukwe, in Enugu, yesterday.
Aliyu said that the operative had been arrested and taken into custody, pending the conclusion of investigations.
“The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, has ordered the deputy Commissioner of police in-charge of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to carry out thorough investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“The incident involved a police inspector attached to the Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 9, Umuahia, Abia; said to be on duty at a lottery company located within the Golf Estate. The commissioner made the order after visiting the hospital where four…persons said to have sustained gunshot injuries are receiving treatment.
“Five others, whose injuries were critical, have been confirmed dead by doctors on duty and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy,’’ the statement reads.
Also, the Commissioner has directed the swift conclusion of investigations to aid further necessary actions by the authorities.
The commissioner also sympathised with the family and friends of the dead, appealing to them to remain calm and cooperate with the command in the ongoing investigation.
He further called on those who witnessed the incident to volunteer useful information; noting that this would help the police in their investigation.
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