Two officers killed as gunmen attack police station in Imo

Two officers attached to Isu police division of Imo state have been killed following an attack on the station by gunmen.

The attack was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday by Rabiu Hussaini, Imo commissioner of police, through Michael Abattam, the command’s spokesperson.

Hassaini said the gunmen attacked the station with “petrol bombs and improvised explosive devices (IED)”, which led to the death of the two officers, while another officer sustained gunshot injury.

Following the attack, he said the police operatives went after the perpetrators who were tracked to “Golden Suite Hotel and Isu Villa Hotel”.

Hassaini said the two hotels were sealed off and raided, adding that 12 motorcycles and two Lexus SUVs believed to have been used by the perpetrators were recovered.

The CP said 17 males and a female were subsequently arrested and are currently undergoing interrogation. 

“On 20th February, 2022, at about 23:30 hours, armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ Eastern Security Network (ESN) in their numbers came in two (2) Toyota Sienna Buses, a Toyota Camry Car and unspecified number of motorcycles, attacked the station from the rear axis, because the station has no perimeter wall, shooting sporadically, threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that ignited the station,” the statement reads.

The police commissioner commended residents for their support and urged security operatives not to relent in their efforts to reduce crime in the state.