The Police has launched a manhunt of some members of the proscribed Independent People of Biafra militants who attacked a police station on Monday in Anambra State.
The hoodlums attacked Umunze Police Station in Orumba South Local Government Area in the early hours of Monday, and set part of the building ablaze using explosives.
An eyewitness said, “The masked hoodlums shot severally into the air as they marched towards the gate of the police premises.
“It happened early this morning and it was the gunshots that woke the neighbourhood and sent panic into the area.
“They shot and injured some police officers as they forcefully entered the premises.
“The incident happened within a short space of time, they burnt some parts of the building and were about to cause more mayhem before the attack was repelled in an exchange of gunfire by the officers on duty, after which the hoodlums escaped back to their hideouts.”
The Spokesman of the Police Command in the state, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said a manhunt has been launched for the terrorists.
“The Joint Security Forces comprising of the Police, Army, Navy, Civil defence and other security agencies recovered five unexploded improvised explosives and are on the trail of the arsonists and armed secessionist group members, who in the early hours of today 16/9/2024 attacked the Umunze Police Station.
“The suspected armed proscribed group invaded the police facility with improvised explosives, shooting sporadically and fire caught part of the station.
“Unfortunately, two of the police operatives on duty during the gun battle in a bid to resist the assailants from causing more havoc paid the supreme price. Their bodies have been recovered and taken to the morgue.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Nnaghe Itam, had visited the scene, for on-the-spot assessment to reinforce and reassess security deployment.
“The CP calls on anyone who has any information that will aid the investigation to come forward. He also assures utmost confidentiality to any such information in this regard, please,” Ikenga added.
