Two police operatives had been killed on Saturday in Abia State when gunmen attacked a divisional police headquarters in Aba, the business hub of the South-eastern state.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the attackers invaded the police facility at about 2 a.m. on Saturday.
Residents instructed this newspaper that the hoodlums opened fireplace upon arrival on the station earlier than throwing an improvised explosive units into the ability which broken some buildings on the station.
They stated the attackers additionally set a police van ablaze and destroyed a Toyota automobile, an influence generator and different valuables in the constructing.
Police communicate
The police spokesperson in Abia State, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the attack and the killings in a press release on Saturday.
Ms Chinaka, a deputy superintendent of police, stated the attack occurred at precisely 2:26 a.m. at Urratta-Eziukwu Area, a group in Aba South Local Government Area of the state.
“At about 02:26hrs, the hoodlums attacked the division with explosives, ensuing in a hearth that broken a part of the constructing and the divisional patrol van.
“Sadly, two senior police officers lost their lives, while three inspectors sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention,” she stated.
The spokesperson clarified that, opposite to claims, no firearms or ammunition had been carted away by the gunmen through the attack.
Ms Chinaka stated, in response to the attack, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Wilfred Afolabi, has personally led an operational crew comprising tactical items of the command to the realm.
“The team combed the surrounding environment and restored calm, while intensified security operations and monitoring are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators,” she stated.
The spokesperson stated Mr Afolabi has condemned the attack and vowed to trace down the attackers.
The commissioner emphasised that the police in the state would deploy all vital operational and intelligence sources to determine and monitor down the killers.
The police chief commiserated with the households of the slain operatives.
He urged residents to stay calm, vigilant and to help the police with info that would help the continuing investigation.
“Information can be reported at the nearest police station, through the suggestion boxes and contact details of the DPO’s provided at police divisions,” he stated, dropping some cell numbers for residents with info.
First time in very long time
The newest attack marks the primary such incident is occurring in the state in a very long time.
Like in different components of the South-east, assaults by armed individuals particularly on police services had considerably waned in current years in the area.
The area, prior to now, witnessed elevated assaults typically attributed to the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
But IPOB, a bunch in search of secession of the South-east and South-south from Nigeria, had repeatedly denied its involvement in the assaults.
Recall {that a} current PREMIUM TIMES’ special report revealed that assaults and killings have lowered by 50 per cent in the South-east for the reason that arrest and imprisonment of a controversial Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, in Finland in 2025.
Meanwhile, no group has claimed accountability for the newest lethal attack in Abia State.
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