Gunmen Attack Anambra Police Headquarters, Kill Corporal in Fiery Assault
Anambra State, September 3, 2024 – In the early hours of Tuesday, gunmen launched a deadly attack on the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The assailants, reportedly numerous and heavily armed, targeted the police facility and threw explosives, leading to a devastating assault.
According to local sources, the gunmen not only attacked the police station but also struck the nearby Oba Civic Centre. The attack left one police corporal dead and several others injured, with varying degrees of severity. The motive behind the brazen assault remains unclear, though suspicions have arisen that it may be linked to a secessionist group operating in the region.
Confirming the incident, State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed that the attackers fired indiscriminately upon arrival and used petrol bombs to ignite fires within the police station and civic centre. “The Police-led Joint Security Force, comprising the Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and other security agencies, is currently conducting a joint operation in Oba and surrounding areas following the attack early today, 3/9/2024, on the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters and Oba Civic Centre,” Ikenga stated.
He added, “The suspected armed secessionist group began shooting sporadically to gain entry to the Police Station and threw petrol bombs at the facility, causing fires in some offices and the Oba Civic Centre. Unfortunately, a police corporal who was fatally injured has paid the supreme price. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of other police officers on duty and the Joint Security responding team.”
In the wake of the attack, Commissioner of Police CP Nnaghe Obono Itam strongly condemned the incident, labeling it an assault on the nation’s core. He vowed to bring those responsible for the heinous act to justice, emphasizing the resolve of the security forces to maintain peace and order in the region.
The joint security operation in the aftermath of the attack is ongoing, as authorities intensify efforts to restore calm and apprehend the perpetrators.
