19th February, 2023
Five gunmen and a policeman were killed in Anambra State during heavy gun-battle between the police and gunmen on Sunday.
The gunmen had attacked a police station at Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State and met a stiff resistance from the police.
The ensuing gun-battle left five of the gunmen and a police officer dead.
It was gathered that the gunmen were enforcing the ‘No election sit-at-home’ when they met their waterloo at the wee hour of Sunday after they failed in an attack on a police station.
The bodies of the gunmen were paraded by the police with their guns on Sunday.
Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesman, Anambra Police Command, in a statement, confirmed that five armed men and one police operative attached to the station were killed during the operation.
He said the combined security team, made up of the Police and the military, today on Sunday by 5:58 am, neutralized a gang of five armed men, recovers two Ak-47 rifles, one Toyota Sienna vehicle with Reg No Abuja ABC 848 EQ, charms and other incriminating items, in a response to a distress call on an attack at 3 3 Police Divisional Headquarters, Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi LGA.
Ikenga stated that the notorious gang of five, armed with guns, IEDs, and petrol bombs, started shooting indiscriminately to gain entrance to the station and were engaged and resisted by gallant officers attached to the station.
According to him, during the gun duel, unfortunately, one police operative attached to the station was fatally wounded and an office in the facility was partially affected by the petrol bomb the armed men threw inside the station.
He added that one patrol vehicle parked in front of the station was set ablaze by the gunmen.
He stated that the situation was under control and that the incident was still being assessed, adding that the Joint operations were still ongoing and that further development shall be communicated.
The attack is coming less than 24 hours after two attacks were recorded at Ukpo and Ogidi where three policemen were reportedly killed and soldiers injured.