Gunmen Invade Imo Police Division, Kill 4 Policemen

Gunmen, on Friday night, attacked and killed four Police personnel on duty at the newly constructed Police station in Agwa community of Oguta local government area of Imo State.

The attackers reportedly set ablaze the police station and destroyed the operational vehicles belonging to Agwa Divisional Police Station.

Narrating the incident to our correspondent, a source from the community disclosed that some policemen and women numbering four who were on duty were killed during the attack.

According to him “gunmen came around 12pm last night with one Tipper vehicle, two Sienna vehicles and launched attack on our community police station shooting sporadically.

“Two police women were burnt to death alongside two other policemen on duty. They also went to the house of one okada rider known as Ejike in our village and shot him to death while his wife survived gunshot injury.

“The hoodlums operated for about three hours. As I speak with you now, there is palpable fear and anxiety in my community, people are scared of their lives and many have fled to our neighbouring communities for their safety.”

Another source, who do not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that one of the slain police officers was only two-week-old in the Force.

He said, “One of the officers killed is a new recruit. It is not more than two weeks that he became a police officer after the passing out parade.

“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.”

Our correspondent saw gory pictures of the attacked Police Division and some officers lying dead in the poll of their blood.

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 also being expected.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, did not pick his calls, as his phone rang severally without response as at the time of this report.