By MILDRED KATONGO –

A GROUP of armed suspected Congolese ambushed a police post in Kasumbalesa on the Copperbelt, shooting and injuring an officer manning the station and stealing four AK-47 assault rifles with 109 rounds of ammunition.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga said more than five armed criminals jumped the wall and attacked two police officers on duty at the border post police station around 02:00 hours yesterday.
Ms Katanga said the bandits, clad in security attire, shot the police officer and stole the four guns and ammunition, as well as money belonging to the prisoners worth K1,560, US$95 and 126 Congolese francs, four keys for impounded vehicles and cell phones belonging to the officers on duty.
She said that two criminals entered the police post to steal the goods, while one armed and clad in security uniform identified as a soldier from the neighbouring country, shot the officer on duty, while more than three were outside.
Ms Katanga, who identified the injured police officer as Constable George Mulwani, 25, said he was admitted to Konkola Mine Hospital and described his condition as stable.
“We have an aggravated robbery report in which more than five armed criminals, one suspected to be from Congo and clad in security uniform attacked the police officers at the station, shot the officer on duty, stole four riffles, money belonging to suspects in police cells, keys for motor vehicles impounded and cell phones for our offices on duty,” Ms Katanga said.
She said police on the Copperbelt and security wings from the Democratic Republic of Congo had joined forces and instituted investigations into the matter.
Ms Katanga said no arrests had been made so far, but police had already established clues that would help apprehend the suspects.
She said it was unfortunate that police officers who were supposed to maintain law and order were being attacked by criminals.