In a shocking incident on Monday, unidentified assailants attacked the Umunze Police Station in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, leading to the tragic deaths of two police operatives.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers stormed the police facility in the early morning hours, firing shots into the air before forcibly entering the premises. During the chaos, several officers were caught off guard, and parts of the station were set ablaze using improvised explosive devices.
One witness recounted, “The masked attackers fired numerous shots as they approached the police gate. The gunfire woke the neighborhood and caused widespread panic. They shot and injured officers as they broke in, igniting parts of the building. It all happened very quickly before the officers on duty managed to repel them in a gunfight, forcing the attackers to flee.”
This incident follows a recent attack on the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters, where gunmen killed a police corporal and set the facility on fire.
SP Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the assault and announced that a manhunt for the fleeing assailants has been initiated.
“The Joint Security Forces, including the Police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and other agencies, recovered five unexploded improvised explosives and are pursuing the armed group responsible for today’s attack,” Ikenga stated.
He added that the attackers employed improvised explosives while firing indiscriminately, which resulted in significant damage to the station. “Regrettably, two police operatives lost their lives in the line of duty during the confrontation. Their bodies have been recovered and taken to the morgue,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Itam, visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and to enhance security measures. He urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward, assuring confidentiality for those who do.
