Tipper drivers in Oba, Anambra State, on Friday ran over five operatives of the Special Anti-Touting Squad, SASA, killing them instantly.
SASA is a creation of the Anambra State government, designed to check the operation of touts on Anambra roads.
A violent encounter between tipper drivers and members of the squad erupted after the incident.
An eyewitness described the incident as a deliberate and coordinated attack by the drivers on the SASA operatives.
According to Karen James, SASA’s spokesperson, the squad had entered the notorious garage in Oba for an enforcement operation.
She said: “The area is reportedly a hub for criminal activities, including armed robbery, drug dealing, and other illicit operations.
“The SASA men were not there to block the drivers but to carry out their lawful duties. The claim that SASA attempted to block the tippers on the expressway is a blatant lie.”
Eyewitness reports indicate that as soon as the anti-touting squad arrived, tipper drivers armed with weapons surrounded them. In a desperate attempt to flee the hostile situation, the SASA officers reportedly tried to return to their base.
However, the drivers allegedly blocked every escape route, deliberately ramming the officers with tippers, killing five of them. Six persons are in the hospital, and four are missing.
Karen James further alleged that the drivers orchestrated the attack to recover items previously confiscated during the operation. The assailants fled the scene after ensuring that the officers were dead.
Salient Times gathered that police and other security agencies have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators as investigations are underway.
Authorities have also promised to bring those responsible to justice and restore order to the troubled area.
