Less than 24 hours after the killing of six gunmen by the operatives of the Anambra State Police Command during an attack on a police facility in the state, gunmen have again launched another attack on a police station in the state.
The attack happened at Awada police station in Onitsha metropolis in the early hours of Monday.
Reports claim that the gunmen who came in their numbers stormed the station in cars, armed with petrol bombs and other kinds of weapons, with which they launched an attack on the police facility.
Although the casualties figure remains unknown, reports say that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and two other officers attached to the station paid the supreme price during the attack, while three of the unknown gunmen were also neutralized by the police.
A resident of the area who pleaded anonymity also alleged that the gunmen set the station on fire after carting away guns and ammunition therein.
Another resident of the area revealed that the police operatives also caught two of the gunmen alive after killing three of them.
The source said, “It was terrible last night for people living close to Awada police station, it’s as if war has come close to us.
“This morning, I gathered that the unknown gunmen invaded the station, set some part of the station on fire, killed three policemen which included DPO Isiowulu police station, a newly recruited constable, and one inspector.
“With the help of the military men that surfaced, Police were able to kill three of the gunmen, and captured two red-handed.”
Confirming the attack, the Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Mr. Christian Aburime, in a statement titled, “End of the road for another gang of murderers and arsonists” said two AK 47 and vehicles used for the failed operation were recovered.
He said, “Again, in the early hours of today 20/02/23 these evil people, arsonists and murderers (UGM), made another deadly attempt to burn down Awada Police Station, near Obosi, Anambra State.
“They were repelled by gallant security personnel with 3 members of the gang taken down after an exchange of gun battle
“Two AK 47 were recovered with the vehicles used for the failed operation by the gang.”
Meanwhile, The Sun reports that the Police Public Relations Officer of the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu could not be reached for his reaction on the attack, as his number was yet to connect as at the time of this publication