2023: Don’t Disappoint Nigerians, Editors Charge INEC, Security Agencies

Six gunmen have been killed in a clash between a gang of rampaging gunmen and a team of gallant police operatives in Anambra State.

LEADERSHIP, however, learnt that one of police operatives lost his life during the clash which occurred at about 5.58 am yesterday at Nkwellezunaka Police Station in Oyi local government area of the state.

The clash occurred about 24 hours after a gang of rampaging hoodlums attacked Ogidi police station in neighbouring Idemili-North local government area killing three police officers and bombing the police station with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) including petrol, destroying in the process virtual all the facilities at the police station.

Sources said the hoodlums were moving to the Nkwellezunaka police station in their large numbers, shooting sporadically and a team of police operatives engaged them in a fierce exchange of gunfire.

The police team was said to have had superior fire power and neutralised five of them before they could flee carrying along one of their colleagues who sustained serious bullet injuries.

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The police public relations officer in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident when LEADERSHIP contacted him.

He said, “Police operatives attached to 3- 3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi LGA today, 19/2/2023 by 5:58 am, 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 Reg No 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, started shooting indiscriminately to gain entrance to the station and 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 PMF Operatives arrived the scene.

“During the gun duel, unfortunately, one police operative attached to the station was fatally wounded and an office in the facility was partially affected by the petrol bomb the Insurgents threw inside the station.

“Also, one patrol vehicle parked in front of the station was 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, please”, the PPRO stated further.

Also, a source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “The unknown gunmen came in their large numbers, shooting sporadically, moving to the Nkwellezunaka police station.

“They didn’t know that a team of gallant police officers was trailing them because in the past they had always carried out their attacks without much resistance from the police.

“What happened this morning (Sunday) was probably a surprise to the unknown gunmen because the police men appeared to have laid ambush for them, as they (police men) engaged them (hoodlums) in a superior gunfire, killing five of their gang members. They (gunmen) ran away carrying one of them who was seriously injured by the police officers”, the source stated further.

Today’s foiled attack on Nkwellezunaka police station has brought to about four police stations attacked by hoodlums in the state within this year.

The first attack was Ihiala police station in Ihiala local government during which a vigilante person there was killed, including military personnel after the hoodlums bombed the council secretariat.

Also, a gang of hoodlums were later to attack Ojoto police station and office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Idemili-South local government, killed a 16 years old boy and injured a 15 years old girl, who were relatives of police officers’ resident in the premises of the police station.

Thereafter the hoodlums attacked Abagana police station throwing bomb into it and in the process razed down part of the police station.

Tochukwu had in his reaction to each of the attacks assured members of the public that the commissioner of police in the state, CP Echeng Echeng was putting in place a perfect strategy to ensure that the hoodlums were stopped on their tracks whenever they attempted to carry out such their deadly attacks.