By 
Abiodun OBA
Gunmen continued their attack on security formations in the South East yesterday with the invasion of Police headquaters in Anambra and a Police station in Abia.
Two Policemen and three other persons were killed when gunmen attacked the Zone 13 police headquarters at Ukpo, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.
At the Police zonal headquarters, policemen gave the names of their dead colleagues as Inspector Ishaku Aura and PC Uzoma Uwaebuka.
One of the buildings at zone 13 was razed by the hoodlums, while four vehicles were burnt.
A police officer at the zone said: “The hoodlums invaded the zonal headquarters at Ukpo in the early hours of yesterday but our gallant men repelled the attack.
“In the process, they killed two of our men while our men gunned down three of their men, but they quickly carried them and zoomed off.
“Those hoodlums came in their numbers, in fact, not less than 20, but our men were equal to the task. They tried to gain access into our armoury but our men stopped them.
“One General Purpose Machine Gun, GMPG, was recovered by the Police from the attackers and the identity of the attackers was still not known”.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nkeiru Nwode, who confirmed the incident, said apart from the GPMG, ammunition of various types were also recovered from the hoodlums. Nwode’s statement read: “Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Zone-13 headquarters, Ukpo, Anambra State, have successfully repelled an attack on the Zonal headquarters by criminal elements in the early hours of today, (yesterday) 19th April, 2021.
“The attackers, who came in their numbers, shot sporadically in order to gain access to the facility, but were repelled by police personnel on duty who showed profound gallantry in the face of the seemingly overwhelming attack.
“Following the inability of the attackers to access the facility, they cowardly threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on vehicles within the periphery of the headquarters.
“One of the criminal elements was neutralized during the exchange of gunfire between the police and the attackers, while many of the gang members escaped with gunshots injuries.
“One L7A2 General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), ninety-two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one locally-made smoke pistol and an axe were recovered by the police. Regrettably, two police operatives sustained gunshot injuries and are currently receiving treatment.
“Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Kuryas, who is also standing in for the Zonal Assistant Inspector General of Police, for the zone has commended the police operatives for putting up a strong resistance against the attackers.
“The CP, supported by other senior officers from Zone-13 Headquarters and the state command, is personally leading a special operation aimed at tracing, identifying and arresting the perpetrators to bring them to book.
“The CP also called on proprietors of private and public (including unorthodox) medical facilities in and around Anambra State to admit, but report anyone found seeking medical attention for bullet wounds and related injuries to the nearest police station.
“The CP has, however, called on citizens in the state not to panic, but go about their lawful duties.
“While assuring of the command’s resolve to re-dominate, reclaim and secure all public spaces as directed by the Inspector General of Police, the CP enjoins members of the public to continue to support the police with vital and timely information on the activities of criminals and other subversive elements within their respective communities.”
Also in Abia State. hoodlums razed the Uzuakoli Police Division in Bende council area of the state in the early hours of yesterday freeing detainees after overpowering the policemen guarding the station.
However, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,denied any involvement in the attacks of security agents, agencies and their formations in any party of the South East and Nigeria in general.
It described the attack of Police Zone 13 as unfortunate, maintaining that it was not involved in any violent activity and should not be associated with any violence in Nigeria, let alone South East and South South which was working very tirelessly to protect from terrorists and killer herdsmen.
IPOB also gave reasons the Eastern Security Network ESN, established by its Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, cannot work together with EbubeAgu regional security outfit recently announced by South East governors.
IPOB alleged that Ebubeagu would sabotage ESN if they were collaborate as being suggested by some eminent Igbo personalities.
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