An Inspector of Police was killed in a gun duel between two teams of police operatives who mistook each other for enemy while on patrol around Agwa in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
The operatives were among tactical teams deployed to the area after gunmen invaded Agwa Divisional police headquarters in two vehicles and a tipper at about 11.pm on Friday, August 5, during which four police personnel including two women Inspectors were killed and the station set ablaze.
Following the development, tactical teams were deployed to Agwa to beef up security including the Crime Control Squad and Lion Team of the State police command, which inadvertently engaged in a shootout at about 9.pm on Wednesday, August 10.
Scudnews gathered that the incident occurred when operatives of the Crime Control Squad who had visited the State police armoury to replenish ammunition and were returning to Agwa, ran into an unmarked mini bus on with five armed men of the Imo State police Anti-vice Team who were also on patrol around Ejemekuru, Agwa.
It could not be ascertained if operatives of the Crime Control Squad were also riding on a marked vehicle, but reports indicated that the two teams mistook each other for an enemy and engaged in crossfire.
One of the operatives –an Inspector of Police identified as Iseke Koradaman was reportedly killed in the shootout during which both teams were said to have called the Control Room at the police headquarters in Owerri, Imo State capital, for re-enforcement.
It was further learned that the call for re-enforcement from both teams made the personnel manning the Control Room to realize it was an erroneous encounter and promptly asked them to cease fire.
While describing the incident as “friendly fire”, a police source who does not want his name mentioned said the body of late Inspector Koradaman has been deposited at the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Owerri, for necessary procedures.
