Police facilities had been attacked nine times and 17 persons, including civilians and policemen, have been killed in February alone in Anambra State.
In the latest attack which took place in early Sunday, some persons had been killed when gunmen attacked the 3-3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra Stat.
The attack was was common less than 24 hours after a similar one at Ukpor and Ogidi communities where three policemen were killed.
Five of the hoodlums and a policeman were reportedly killed in the gun battle in the attack that occurred at about 5.58am on Sunday, according to a report by The Punch.
According to a local in the area, the gunmen started shot indiscriminately forcing their entrance into the station but were resisted by policemen attached to the station.
The hoodlums threw a petrol bomb into an office in the police facility which partially burnt the building and also a patrol van parked in the station.
There conflicting casualty figures as of press time as some sources said six people died while others said about eight died in the attack.
One of the locals revealed that the residents were woke up from sleep on Sunday, by sounds of gunshots of 3-3 Layout of Onitsha from sleep as armed men, in their large number, invaded the Divisional Police Station, Nkwelle Ezunaka located at the 3-3 Junction, shouting ‘no election in the South-East.’
“The police station shares a fence with the Federal Government Girls College and it is opposite a commercial bank and near the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Onitsha.
“Even the parishioners at the Ebenezer Anglican Church located near the area and parishioners at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, opposite the police station ran away from their respective morning service.”
The local said a tricycle operator was hit in his neck and died of bullet; adding that a popular barber called “Small” was also killed.
The state police command spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the area was cordoned off by the police as of 8.52 am.
Ikenga, however, said members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network, attacked the police facility, adding that the group stormed the area in large numbers in two SUV vehicles and one Toyota Sienna, armed with guns, explosive devices and petrol bombs.
He said, “Police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi LGA on Sunday by 5.58am, 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 registration number 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 and started shooting indiscriminately to gain entrance to the station but 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 the Police Mobile Force operatives arrived the scene.”
According to Ikenga, during the gun battle, a police operative attached to the station was fatally wounded and an office in the facility was partially burnt by the petrol bomb the hoodlums threw inside the station.
“One patrol vehicle parked in front of the station was also 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,” Ikenga added.
