A policeman was killed on Thursday in Ebonyi State when gunmen attacked and engaged a police patrol team in a gun duel.

The incident happened around the crisis prone Ngbo-Effium axis in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.

Police spokesperson, Joshua Ukandu confirmed this in a statement on Friday in Abakaliki, capital of the state.

According to him, “On 01/02/2024 at about 11:00 am, Operatives of the Command on patrol along Ngbo-Effium Road were attacked by armed hoodlums using an Ash coloured Toyota Sienna with registration number unknown.”

The operatives, he said, engaged the hoodlums and in the ensuing gun duel, one  of the operatives was fatally wounded.

Ukandu noted that  another policeman was wounded and receiving medical treatment at the hospital.

“The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo immediately dispatched tactical teams of the command to the scene.

“The team are on the trail of the hoodlums. Meanwhile, calm and normalcy have been restored to the area”, he said.

“The CP is using this medium to call on well-meaning individuals of the State to avail the Command with useful information that can lead to the arrest of the fleeing hoodlums while assuring them of the command’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and properties in the State,” he added.