Gunmen attack police command in Anambra amid IPOB’s sit-at-home order

The police say its operatives repelled an attack by gunmen on the Nnewi command in Okigwe area of Umudim, Anambra state.

Tochukwu Ikenga, the police public relations officer (PPRO), confirmed the development to NAN in Awka, the Anambra capital, on Monday.

The development comes amid a sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB had said it would enforce a lockdown every Monday, from August 9, in the south-east until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released.

According to Ikenga, operatives successfully repelled the attackers who came in vehicles in the afternoon.

He said the police and other security agencies are currently at the command to ensure the situation is under control.

Speaking on the incident, a resident of the area who didn’t want to be named, told NAN that they heard heavy gunshots around the area command at about 2pm on Monday.

“We gathered that the shooting was between suspected unknown gunmen and police at Nnewi police area command and that caused pandemonium among the residents of Nnewi community,” the resident said.

The source added that the gunmen came in about seven vehicles to the police station and started shooting for over one hour.

The resident also claimed that the gunmen carted away arms at the station, adding that by the time reinforcement from a combined team of security agencies arrived, the attackers had left.