[b]It was a sad day in Aba, Abia State yesterday, as suspected kidnappers set ablaze four policemen, less than 24 hours after the Anti-kidnap Squad set up by the Abia State government swung into action.

In Onitsha, Anambra State, another policeman was killed by kidnappers after they abducted three businessmen in the commercial city.

The four policemen were burnt beyond recognition and another critically wounded, following an attack on them by the kidnappers at Ogbor-Hill, Aba.

A witness told Daily Champion that an attempt by the hoodlums to kidnap the General Manger of 7-Up Bottling Company (an expatriate) was foiled by the police.

Some residents and shop owners who spoke to Daily Champion at the scene said they saw the vehicle that was conveying expatriates who work with the 7-Up bottling company and the police van occupied by the burnt police men that were escorting the expatriates being pursued by some men in a sport utility vehicle (SUV) jeep and a Mercedes V-Boot before the shooting that took place.

They said probably sensing that the two vehicles were after them with the intention of kidnapping the expatriates the driver sped up and was able to drive into the Seven-Up premises before the men of the underworld could get to them.

But the police van was not lucky as according to eye witnesses, the suspected kidnappers having missed their main target descended on the policemen inside the escort van. It was reported that when the driver of the police van could not drive into the premises of Seven-Up before the gate men locked up the gate, he jumped out of the vehicle and was about to run when one of the kidnappers shot him on the leg.

As some of the kidnappers, including a female member began to shoot the police men in the vehicle, some other members of the gang totaling eight were already shooting sporadically, an action which forced shop owners and residents to flee.

Not done with mere shooting and killing of the police men the kidnappers went to a nearby road side petrol station, carried some cans of petrol, spread the contents on the lifeless bodies of the policemen and the van and set them ablaze.

The eye witnesses said after the operation that lasted over 30 minutes with no challenge from any quarters, the kidnappers discovered that one of the tyres of the jeep had deflated took time to fix another tyre and then drove off, shooting sporadically as they went.

When Daily Champion arrived the scene some police men, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Ogbor Hill Divisional Police Station, Mr. Warebi Owotorufa, were there taking stock of what happened.

The police men did not allow news men to get closer to the burnt van as the remains of the burnt police men were still inside.

Two private ambulances, one belonging to General Medical Practice (GMP) arrived the scene and the remains were transferred to them and they drove away, probably to deposit them at a mortuary.

As the ambulances left, the DPO who supervised the movement of the remains of the victims Mr. Owotorufa, also left the scene, accompanied by some police men, leaving other police men and some soldiers behind.

It was at that point that the soldiers and policemen allowed Daily Champion reporter to get closer to the burnt police van.

On closer look half burnt boots that might have slipped off the legs of the burnt police men as the police men were burning, heaps of ashes from the burnt flesh of the of the burnt police men, a rim of burnt spare tyre inside the van and other items also burnt were inside the van that it was only its burnt pan could be seen.

At this point a lance corporal broke down in tears pointing at the van said, Madam these were the shoes of the police officers in the van that came to work this morning. Even our oga (the DPO) couldn’t recognize any of the men as they were burnt beyond recognition. Madam, you saw that it were only their bones that were transferred to the ambulances".

When Daily Champion called the phone number of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tam Edgar Nanakumo, he answered but told the reporter that he was at the office of the Aba Police Area Commander and advised that the reporter should meet him there.

On getting to the Area Command the gates were locked and the policemen at the gate said they would only allow the reporter in if the Commissioner gives order that they should escort her to the Area Commander’s office.

The chief mortician of Abia State University Teaching Hospital mortuary in Aba, where the corpses of the victims were deposited, Mr. Damian Chinemerem, who confirmed the incident, said: "Police Officers brought four corpses of their colleagues here this morning and called us on phone because we are on strike, and simply told us they were attacked by robbers".

Meanwhile, when our correspondent called on the Area Commander in Aba, he said he was indisposed to address the press, but simply referred him to the Police Headquarters.

It will be recalled that the Abia State government had last Monday, banned the use of motorcycles in major towns in the state, arguing that they facilitate the escape of kidnappers and robbers from the scene of crime.

Meanwhile, the ban on commercial motorcyclists in Isialangwa Council Area of the state has been disregarded as Daily champion investigations revealed that they have been operating freely since the announcement

At the Isialangwa North junction of Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway where some of the operators spoke to our reporter they said they ignored the ban because they had no other alternative means of livelihood.

"We are ready to die with any police officer that will try to touch us. If the governor likes, let him bring in the army," they said.

Ironically a team of Police/Army Joint Task force at a road block at the opposite side of the highway was busy checking "papers" fro motorists.

Apart from Umuahia the state capital, where there is overwhelming compliance with the ban, commercial motorcyclists were observed in other parts of the state moving freely without molestations.

Meanwhile, the ban has continued to generate mixed reactions from residents as some welcome the action while others consider it a rash policy with far reaching economic consequences.

People were seen around Umuahia metropolis trekking to their destinations as taxis are yet to be introduced to most routes in the city.

Daily Champion investigations showed that the "Ochendo Yellow" taxi extended to individuals to ease transport problems in the city have either been converted to private use or taken to other cities especially Port Harcourt for greener pastures.

Okada operators in Aba had during a demonstration on Monday alleged that the cabs were allocated to only government cronies

Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. Sam Hart had in a press release directed all those who benefited from the scheme but absconded to other cities to return to the state immediately and commit the cabs to the purpose for which they were distributed or risk arrest.

Also, kidnappers again invaded Onitsha yesterday and killed a mobile policeman, after abducting three businessmen in the town.

Daily Champion gathered that the operations which took place in two separate places in the town almost the same time caught the police in the city unawares.

However, Super Eagles goalkeeper Austin Ejide escaped being kidnapped by whiskers as he had left earlier in the morning by the time the kidnappers went to his house at Fegge in Onitsha. [/b]

I'm tempted to say good riddance!. . . .i don't really have much love for the nigerian police.

Whatever a man show that shall he reap unless they repent from this deadly act, this is pure hurrible , how can people live this kind of life, my soul mourn with those police offices family, may their sole rest in peace