Three injured as gunmen raze police station in Anambra 

Gunmen, on Thursday, set ablaze the Ajali divisional police headquarters in Orumba north LGA of Anambra state.

The state police command confirmed the incident, saying three persons, including police officers, sustained gunshot wounds during the attack.

Ikenga Tochukwu, the command’s spokesperson, said the gunmen were engaged by the police who tried to repel the attack.

“The CP noted that today, 30th September 2021, some yet-to-be-identified heavily-armed men stormed the Ajali Divisional Headquarters of the State and fired sporadically at police personnel on duty,” the statement reads.

“They were, however, promptly engaged by the police officers before they fled the scene. Unfortunately, two (2) police personnel and a civilian sustained gunshot injuries, while a patrol vehicle went in flames and the Police Station was partly torched.”

Ikenga said a joint team of police and military personnel immediately went after the fleeing gunmen and intercepted them along the Oko Ajali road.

He said the gunmen escaped with gunshot injuries and that security operatives recovered a jeep and two motorcycles from them.

The police also said in a related development, a motorist was shot dead, while the occupants of the vehicle were abducted by gunmen along Nnobi-Nnewi road in the state.

“Investigations into the incidents are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to identify and rescue the occupants of the vehicle,” Ikenga said.

According to the PPRO, Tony Olofu, commissioner of police in Anambra, condemned the incidents.

The CP was quoted as saying security agencies are already organising strategies to contain the situation and prevent further threats to lives and property in the state.

The incidents occurred days after the killing of Chike Akunyili, husband of the late Dora Akunyili, ex-minister of information and communications.