Barely few hours after the gruesome killing of Senator Ahmed Gulak in Imo state southeast Nigerian on the 30th May 2021, the police special forces made up of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Tactical Units from the command deployed to the scene have neutralized the killers and recovered three AK 47 rifles and cars used in the heinous act.

According to the press release signed by police public relations officer of the Imo police command, SP Bala Elkana, the operatives deployed to Obiangwu Junction at Ngor Okpala LGA of the state were given a clear instruction to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the act with a view of bringing them to justice. 

The police said, eyewitness account, especially the account given by the driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack,  gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. 

Consequently, the team was able to establish the location of suspects, they were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area. The hoodlums were met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with Onions from the Northern region of Nigeria.   

On sighting the police, the hoodlums providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The Gallant and battle-ready police officers swiftly returned the fire. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered.  

The press release also stated that the driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co- victim who survived have all identified the dead bodies of the hoodlums as members their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers. During the encounter, two of the police armored personnel carriers (APC) were riddled with bullets but survived the gun battle.

Correspondent Ajibade Awofeso reports that the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro commended the gallant effort of the team and admonished them to continue to protect the public space.