Crime News

Six killed as gunmen attack another Anambra police station

 

No fewer than six persons were killed when gunmen attacked the 3-3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State in the early hours of Sunday.

The attack was carried out less than 24 hours after a similar attack at Ukpor and Ogidi communities where three policemen were killed.

It was gathered that five of the hoodlums and a policeman died during a gun battle in the attack that occurred at about 5.58am on Sunday.

A source in the area said the rampaging gunmen started shooting indiscriminately as they approached the entrance of the station but were resisted by policemen attached to the station.

The source said the hoodlums succeeded in throwing a petrol bomb into an office in the police facility which partially burnt the building and also a patrol van parked in the station.

The attack made it the ninth-time hoodlums would be attacking police facilities where about 17 persons, including civilians and policemen, have so far been killed in February alone.

Details of the casualty figures were still sketchy as of press time as some sources said six people died while others said about eight died in the attack.

One of the sources said, “In the early hours of Sunday, sounds of gunshots woke up residents of 3-3 Layout of Onitsha from sleep as armed men, in their large number, stormed the Divisional Police Station, Nkwelle Ezunaka located at the 3-3 Junction, shouting ‘no election in the South-East.’

“The police station shares a fence with the Federal Government Girls College and it is opposite a commercial bank and near the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Onitsha.

“Even the parishioners at the Ebenezer Anglican Church located near the area and parishioners at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, opposite the police station ran away from their respective morning service.”

The source added that a tricycle operator was hit by a bullet in his neck and died; adding that a popular barber called “Small” was also killed.

Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the state police command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the area was cordoned off by the police as of 8.52 am.

Ikenga, however, said members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network, attacked the police facility, adding that the group stormed the area in large numbers in two SUV vehicles and one Toyota Sienna, armed with guns, explosive devices and petrol bombs.

He said, “Police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi LGA on Sunday by 5.58am, foiled an attack by IPOB/ESN insurgents on the police facility, neutralised six of the insurgents, recovered two AK-47 rifles, one Toyota Sienna vehicle with registration number Abuja ABC 848 EQ, charms and other incriminating items.

“The outlawed IPOB/ESN insurgents came in their numbers with two SUV vehicles and one Toyota Sienna, armed with guns, IEDs and petrol bombs and started shooting indiscriminately to gain entrance to the station but were fiercely engaged and resisted by the Divisional Police Officer and his men in a long gun battle before the prompt reinforcement team, made up of the military and the Police Mobile Force operatives arrived the scene.”

He added that during the gun duel, a police operative attached to the station was fatally wounded and an office in the facility was partially burnt by the petrol bomb the hoodlums threw inside the station.

“One patrol vehicle parked in front of the station was also set ablaze by the gunmen while some of the insurgents escaped with gun shots injuries. The situation is under control and the incident is still being assessed.

“Joint operations are still ongoing to track down the fleeing insurgents and further development shall be communicated,” Ikenga added.

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