Tragedy unfolded in Abia State on Friday as unidentified gunmen ambushed a convoy of Chinese expatriates and their police escorts in the Uturu axis of Isuikwuato Local Government Area, killing two foreign nationals and a Nigerian police officer.
The Abia State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement released on Saturday, describing the incident as a targeted assault on workers traveling to their construction site in the Agukwu-Amaya community.
According to police spokesperson DSP Maureen Chinaka, the command received a distress call around 5:30 p.m. on April 4, alerting them of the deadly ambush. The victims — two Chinese nationals identified as Mr. Quan and Mr. Cai, and a police officer, Inspector Audu Saidu — were fatally shot, while the attackers also made away with the officer’s service rifle.
A swift joint operation involving the police, military, and sister security agencies, led by the Divisional Police Officer in Uturu, successfully rescued four other Chinese nationals and two police officers. Three expatriates were found unharmed, while one sustained minor injuries. Inspector Uba Ahmed, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, is currently receiving treatment alongside the injured Chinese national at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abakaliki.
Another officer, Inspector Ijeagwa Friday, was recovered unhurt.
To bolster the investigation, a tactical squad led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) visited the crime scene on April 5, working with local intelligence sources to identify and apprehend the attackers.
Reacting to the incident, Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, strongly condemned the killings and assured residents that efforts were underway to bring the perpetrators to justice.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and assist security agencies by reporting suspicious movements or individuals, emphasizing the police command’s unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and order across the state.
