BY CHUKS COLLINS
UNKNOWN gunmen, on Thursday, March 28, attacked the Neni Police Divisional Headquarters, in Anaocha Local Council of Anambra State.
Residents of the area said the attackers stormed the facility about 2am on Thursday morning.
Recall that gunmen attacked the Awgbu Police Division in Orumba North Local Council on March 25 in a similar manner, killing some police personnel.
The residents said there was a sustained gun duel before the building went up in flames after a loud explosion, but could not confirm if any life was lost.
The gunmen, numbering about 30, according to eyewitnesses, invaded Neni community, headquarters of Anaocha Local government and set the divisional Police headquarters there ablaze and also torched the adjacent Anaocha Local Council secretariat.
The attackers were said to have been well- armed with assorted deadly weapons and made noisy entrance, shouting, “DPO must go; he has overstayed. He has stayed in Anaocha for over 15 years.”
Another source said they whisked away some Police officers, including female personnel at the station. But that could not be confirmed.
The state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the incident, said though the hoodlums attacked the station with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), they didn’t take away any arms or whisk away any Police personnel, as they were repelled by gallant officers on duty, forcing them to flee.
The state Commissioner of Police (CP), Aderemi Adeoye, also said there was no loss of life in the incident, while not dismissing a connection with the Awgbu attack.
He assured that related and intensive investigation was ongoing, saying the Command was gathering intelligence to establish the identities of the assailants, assuring that they would not escape justice.
“We are gathering intelligence to know those responsible. I do not want to disclose what we are doing. In the fullness of time, we will do that.
“They will not go scot-free,” he assured.
