Gov Otti Orders Manhunt For Killers Of Chinese Miners, Police Officer

The governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has instructed the state’s security forces to find and apprehend the gunmen who murdered a police officer and two Chinese miners in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area.

The victims were ambushed on Friday while en route to a mining site in the Agukwu-Amaya, Ndundu Community.

Otti, in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, condemned the attack.

“Governor Otti is enraged that the perpetrators of the dastardly act could unleash such an unprovoked attack on innocent persons, assuring that his government would provide the necessary support to security agents to ensure that the killers don’t go scot-free,” the statement read.

Otti said that beyond creating the enabling environment for businesses and other economic activities to thrive, his government has ensured that lives and properties are protected through the provision of the necessary support to security agencies in the state.

The governor also promised to intensify security cooperation with states that share boundaries with Abia to build a formidable security architecture “that would ensure that criminals don’t stray into Abia from such states for the purpose of committing crimes on Abia soil, as was the case in this situation.”

The governor condoled with the Nigerian Police Force, the Chinese Embassy, and the families of the victims, praying for the repose of their souls.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Police Command confirmed that the ambush occurred around 5:30pm on Friday.

In a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chinaka, the police said two Chinese expatriates — Mr Quan and Mr Cai — and a police escort, Inspector Audu Saidu, were killed, with the attackers carting away the officer’s rifle.

However, four other Chinese workers and two police officers were rescued during a joint operation by the police, military, and other security agencies led by the Divisional Police Officer of Uturu.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Danladi Isa, has ordered a manhunt for the suspects.