BY VINCENT UJUMADU
AWKA—There was confusion in the commercial city of Onitsha yesterday as unknown gunmen killed a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr. Emmanuel Ochiobi, attached to the Central Police Station, Onitsha.

The DSP,who is in charge of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, was shot by two gunmen operating on a motorcycle along Okosi Road, Inland town of Onitsha.

According to the police, the late Ochiobi, reported in his office around 9am and left shortly for a mechanic workshop where he took his vehicle for repairs.

The police added that “when Ochiobi got to the mechanic workshop, he was joined by another senior colleague, a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) attached to the Inland police station, which is just a few poles away and while they were discussing, two unidentified gunmen pulled up their motorcycle and immediately opened fire on him as he was backing the road.”

However another version of the story said the DSP was going to Awka for an official duty when he met the DCO, and while they were having a chat, the hoodlums shot him from behind and escaped.

According to the police, the assailants who were wielding AK47 Riffles, may have been trailing the late OC SARS from the office.

It added  that the manner they shot at him suggested that they were out to assassinate him at all cost,

the police said:  “Immediately they shot and killed the DSP, the gunmen sped off in their motorcycle, while his colleague escaped unhurt, he was shot at a very close range and the bullets pierced his heart and he died instantly.”

The death of DSP Ochiobi has brought fear to the residents of Onitsha,as this brings to two the number of senior police officers attached to the Central Police Station killed by gunmen in less than three weeks.

When Vanguard visited the Central Police Station, policemen were seen in mourning mood and they gathered in small groups, apparently discussing the sudden death of their colleague who was described by some of them as a hard working and dedicated police officer.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said he was yet to be officially briefed about the incident.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Anambra State branch of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dede Uzor A Uzor, described the death of the Ochiobi as a serious setback in the fight against crime in the commercial city of Onitsha.

Dede Uzor called on Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, to ban commercial motorcycle operators in the state as most of the crime were committed by motorcycle operators.