Gunmen yesterday killed four police officers on duty at a new police station in Agwa community in Oguta local government area of Imo State.
In what appears to be a reflection of increased attacks on security personnel within the state and other parts of the country, the attackers reportedly set ablaze the police station and destroyed operational vehicles belonging to the Agwa Divisional Police Station.
Residents told our correspondent that the four police officers killed were on duty during the attack.
A resident said; “The gunmen came around midnight with one tipper, two Sienna vehicles and launched attack on our community police station, shooting sporadically.
“Two female police officers were burnt to death alongside two other male officers on duty, they also went to the house of one commercial motorcyclist known as Ejike and shot him dead while his wife survived gunshot injuries.
“The hoodlums operated for about three hours, as I speak, there is palpable fear and anxiety in my community, people are scared and many have fled to our neighbouring communities for their safety.”
Another source who does not want his name mentioned told our correspondent that one of the slain officers was only two weeks old in the force.
“This is unbelievable. God should please come to our rescue. The government should please rise up to the occasion. Things are getting out of hand. I don’t know if they want us to run away from our homes. It is now like a war situation. God please help us,” he said.
Our correspondent saw gory pictures of the police station and the dead officers.
Another source told our correspondent that policemen drafted from outside the division had taken over the area and the state commissioner of police, Muhammed Berde, was being expected.
Meanwhile, the widow of the slain commercial motorcyclist is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
About 18 shops, houses and several vehicles were burnt when gunmen invaded Izombe community in the same Oguta local government area of the state yesterday.
The attack happened shortly after gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) hit the police station.
An eyewitness said the gunmen, suspected to be members of Ebubeagu security outfit, also went on a looting spree during the attack.
A resident said; “They burnt vehicles, about 18 shops and stalls containing pharmaceutical stores, spare parts, assorted drinks, boutique.”
Police spokesman for the command, CSP Michael Abattam, confirmed the attack but added that the gunmen ran away following heavy attack from police operatives during an exchange.
Gunmen Kill Expatriates, Police Officers, Workers In Kogi
Elsewhere in Kogi State, gunmen late Friday ambushed expatriates working with the West African Ceramics Company located in Ajaokuta, killing two Indians, two policemen and two drivers, while an unspecified number of persons were allegedly kidnapped.
This came a week after the killing of three policemen and five vigilantes by gunmen in Jida Bassa and the Wednesday kidnapping of three children at Kaduna Estate in Ajaokuta Steel township complex in the same Ajaokuta local government area of the state.
It was gathered that the gunmen ambushed the company workers at about 7 pm and killed six occupants that were in the coaster bus which was conveying them to their various locations.
According to an eye witnesses, the gunmen came with two vehicles and started shooting sporadically.
Sources said the fully armed gunmen then moved into the already demobilised bus and kidnapped some unspecified number of workers and took them away.
A source said; “It was another black day for us in Ajaokuta, we are still mourning the killing of seven officers and kidnap of three children, now another tragic incident has happened.
“The deceased and kidnapped victims were going back to their Niger Bridge Estate before they were ambushed. They are working with West African Ceramics. The police officers exchanged gun fire with the criminals but unfortunately, two of them were killed alongside the two Indians and two drivers inside the vehicle.”
The source gave the name of one of the drivers as Muhammed, adding that three foreigners were among those taken into the bush by the gunmen.
Confirming the attack, the police command said the commissioner of police, Edward Egbuka, visited the scene and directed the deployment of operational units in synergy with other security agencies to restore normalcy in the area.
In a statement, William Ovye Aya, the spokesman, confirmed that two expatriates, two company drivers and two police inspectors died in the exchange of fire with the hoodlums.
“Consequent upon the attacks on expatriates of West Africa Ceramics Company Ajaokuta and Police escort at about 2000hrs of Friday 5th of August,2022, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, *CP Edward Egbuka, has visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment and has equally ordered the deployment of additional operational assets consisting of operatives of the police mobile force, counter terrorism unit, quick response unit and State Intelligence Bureau.
“The CP assures that the command is committed to working in synergy with other security agencies as well as patriotic stakeholders to make the state a safe and secure place for all and sundry. He has further tasked the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations into the unfortunate incident so as to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the attack with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.”
In a related development, there are increasing concerns following the upsurge in the killing of law enforcement agents by terrorists who often lay ambush on their convoys, triggering palpable fears among security aides to heads of various paramilitary agencies, particularly those attached to regional, zonal and state controllers of the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that orderlies to heads of paramilitary outfits, orderlies, drivers and others are now afraid of travelling in their uniforms and marked vehicles, and the officers are requesting to be allowed to make advance movement to their destinations with commercial means of transportation, since most of their superiors have resolved to travel by air, to avert attacks on their often marked operational vehicles.
While expressing worry over what they described as escalating spate of insecurity and the new wave of attacks on government convoys, security operatives and marked operational vehicles, the paramilitary personnel who spoke on condition of anonymity wondered what their fate would be, if well-armed security agents trained to defend and protect the citizens are killed at will.
Some officers of the Federal Fire Service whose regional zonal and state controllers have been summoned to Abuja to participate in the activities lined-up to mark the controller-general’s 100 days in office, said; “The message from the terrorists is very clear: they can operate wherever. After all, surprise attacks is their modus operandi. If they could attack the advance team of the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the largest black country in the world, then it is not a message we should treat as a bluff’.
LEADERSHIP Sunday investigation further revealed that men and officers of the Federal Fire Service are not alone, as even some unarmed Correctional Service officers, Immigration and Civil Defence personnel are on the same page.
Some of the disturbed firefighters who spoke exclusively with LEADERSHIP Sunday, recalled that a few days ago, gunmen ambushed the assistant inspector general of police Zone 12 Bauchi, Audu Madaki, between Barde and Jagindi area of Kaduna State, on his way to Abuja and killed his orderly.
“The AIG was reportedly shot in his arm and injured during the attack while his orderly was shot dead. Isn’t this a hint that the terrorists are becoming bolder? Let’s not forget the fact that we are firefighters who cannot fight terrorists with water.
“In the last six months, gunmen have killed no fewer than 76 law enforcement agents and burnt down, over 50 police formations in the South-South and South East. This is the more reason why we are worried and are requesting that our bosses should permit us to travel ahead of their convoys using public transport.
“About a week ago, a Brigade of Guards team of the Nigerian Army patrolling around the Abuja Law School were ambushed with several soldiers attached to the presidential guards unit were killed. So what chances do we have? Again, barely a week now, a roving unit of terrorists also attacked an army checkpoint around Zuma Rock, though casualty figure remains conflicting, we also do not want to be victims,” they said.
The concerned paramilitary officers who disclosed that they may be forced to protest if their plight is not put into consideration further added that, “ We are so worried because the well-fortified Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, FCT, was recently attacked. On the same day, gunmen opened fire on President Muhammadu Buhari’s advance team in Dutsinma town, Katsina state, who were on their way to Daura to prepare for his visit for the Eid weekend. Two members of the presidential security team were reportedly injured in the exchange of gunfire. Again, we are asking, is our fear not justified?”
The officers who described themselves as ordinary firefighters, added; “Nigeria is now playing host to terror, either high-grade or low-grade, and general insecurity. No Nigerian can genuinely claim to be safe under our current circumstances.”
South East Killings Sad, Unwelcome- PMB
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of the attacks against non-indigenes and law enforcement officials by terrorists in the South East, promising all possible action in conducting a speedy investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Buhari’s reaction came amidst reports of the slaying of six Nigerien citizens and the brutal killing of a number of policemen at their duty posts, urging community and religious leaders to speak more forcefully against the killings, stand up and defend the ethos of our cultural and religious heritage.
“Those who know should point at specific people who did this,” he said in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu.
He expressed his administration’s unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the South East and the entire country, saying the reports of killings anywhere were sad and unwelcome.
He offered condolences to families of the law enforcement agents murdered and the government and people of Niger Republic whose citizens were cruelly beheaded by the attackers.