Tochukwu Ikenga, the Anambra Police Command’s Public Relation Officer (PPRO), said the command is on the lookout for insurgents who attacked its divisional office in the early hours of Sunday, February 19.

Mr Ikenga said the police operatives attached to 33 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra, at about 5:58 a.m. foiled an attack by IPOB/ESN insurgents on the police facility.

In a statement made in Awka on Sunday, Mr Ikenga said the command operatives neutralised six of the insurgents and recovered two Ak47 rifles, one Toyota Sienna vehicle with Reg No Abuja ABC 848 EQ, charms, and other incriminating items.

He said that some members of the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) came in their numbers with two SUV vehicles and one Toyota Sienna, armed with guns, IEDs, and petrol bombs, and shot indiscriminately to gain entrance to the station.

Mr Ikenga disclosed that the insurgents were fiercely engaged and resisted by the divisional police officer and his men in a prolonged gun battle before the prompt reinforcement team, made up of the military and PMF Operatives, arrived at the scene.

The statement said that 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.

He also said one patrol vehicle parked in front of the station was set ablaze by the gunmen.

However, he said the police are hunting some insurgents who escaped with gunshot injuries.

He advised the public and hospital management in the state to report to the nearest police station any patient with gunshot wounds.

Mr Ikenga said that the command is on top of the situation and that the situation is still being assessed.

He said the Joint operations are still ongoing to track down the fleeing insurgents. 

(NAN)