Two arrested, three suspects killed after Eastern Cape police officers shot dead

Two arrested after two Eastern Cape police officers are killed in Libode.

Two people have been arrested, and three suspects have been fatally wounded in police operations following the killings of two Eastern Cape police officers in Libode .

The developments came after police activated a 72-hour plan to track down those linked to the deaths of Warrant Officer Thando Magoxo, 51, and Constable Ntlahla Tyhali, 30.

The officers were killed in the early hours of Friday, September 18, at Ziphunzana Location in Libode, near Mthatha.

According to police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, the officers were responding to a call for assistance after armed suspects attacked a spaza shop and demanded money from the operator.

Both officers were killed during the incident, and their service pistols were taken.

Mathe said that on Friday, an intelligence-driven operation by Mthatha Crime Intelligence and Mthatha K9 resulted in the arrest of two suspects at Ngolo Location in Sibangweni.

The suspects, a 29-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, were allegedly found in possession of an AK47 rifle and ammunition.

They face charges relating to the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Police later followed information about another suspect who was allegedly travelling along the N2 at Sibangweni Location towards Tsolo.

At about 11.55 pm, members of the National Intervention Unit arrived at the location, where the suspect allegedly opened fire on police.

Police returned fire, and the 35-year-old man was fatally wounded. A pistol and three rounds of ammunition were recovered, according to police.

Further operations led police to two other male suspects who were allegedly linked to the killing of the officers.

The two men were fatally wounded during separate confrontations with police at Ngolo village in Libode.