Barely one week after President Peter Mutharika declared war against criminals and called on the Malawi Police Service (MPS) to use any force within the law to address insecurity, unidentified assailants on Wednesday night attacked two police officers on patrol in Mzuzu and grabbed two guns and ammunition from them.
Northern Region Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola yesterday confirmed the attack and said police have launched investigations.
But police sources said the suspects hoodwinked the officers on patrol that they were Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers and wanted to teach police a lesson. The attack comes after a police officer shot dead an MDF soldier in Zomba last Saturday night.
According to Chapola, the two officers were patrolling around St Andrews CCAP Church when they were confronted by the daring suspects.
The suspects assaulted the officers and took away their guns.
The two officers were rushed to Mzuzu Central Hospital where they were admitted. One of the officers was discharged the following morning, but the other one is still in hospital.
“Their condition is improving and we hope the other officer will also be discharged soon,” said Chapola.
The assailants later dumped the guns and ammunition near Chatonda Lodge and people tipped off police that there were guns at the site.
MDF spokesperson Francis Kakhuta-Banda said he could not comment on the matter as the suspects were yet to be identified.
CCAP Synod of Livingstonia Church and Society Programme director Moses Mkandawire also said the attack on security agents does not reflect well on the country.
