Anambra State police command has said the shooting in Nnewi on Wednesday was not to disrupt the burial of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
It said the shooting was from another security agency which mistook the police operatives as unfriendly forces and shot at them.
The spokesman of Anambra command, Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in a statement.
“The command is aware of the shooting incident that took place at Izuchukwu Junction,
“Nnobi/Nnewi road by 7 pm on Wednesday, were security operatives mistook the police operatives as unfriendly forces and opened fire at them.
“We emphasise that the attack on the operatives was not from non-state actors or any attempt to disrupt the burial of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah,” he said.
Ikenga said that preliminary information showed that the security operatives on investigation trailed a suspect to a security checkpoint before the gun duel ensued.
According to him, unfortunately, bullets hit the fuel tank of the Toyota Venza Sedan carrying the men, and it was razed down.
“Two innocent passers-by were injured and they have been taken to the hospital. He sued for calm to allow for investigations into the incident as the issue was under control’’, he said.
The PPRO said that joint security forces have been deployed to ensure Nnewi is calm throughout the burial ceremonies of the late senator.
Mr Ubah, who was Senator, representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, died in London in July at the age of 52.
Mr Ubah would be buried November 22, 2024 at his home Otolo, Nnewi.
NAN