Anambra Police recovers 3 Hilux vans used by gunmen, weapons, search hospitals

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the recovery of 3 of the Hilux vans used by the gunmen that invaded Police B Division and the state Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, both in Awka, Anambra State on Sunday night.

Addressing journalists on Monday at the state INEC office, Commissioner of Police, Chris Owolabi, said that police was able to successfully repel the attack and recover some weapons abandoned by the gunmen while absconding to safety.

He said that they have mounted searchlight on remote areas and hospitals as a way to arrest the attackers.

The CP added: “I guarantee you specifically that there’s no casualty on the part of the police. It was a 95 percent success for us because of the buildings and vehicles that were affected both in INEC and our charge rooms in “B” Division.

“We are working with all the forces, army, navy, civil defence, DSS and others including joint patrol. We are back in the street reclaiming the public space.

“The hoodlums first went to “B” Division police station and were repelled, then they came to INEC and our men repelled them too.

“I want to appeal to journalists to report carefully because we read where people reported that scores of policemen were killed.

“Since last night, we have been moving from hospital to hospital, because we are sure some of the attackers escaped with serious wound. We are appealing to hospital management to help us track them.”

While calling on residents of the state to go about their legal activities, Owolabi disclosed that 8 riffles consisting of AK 47 and pump action were recovered from the attackers, including live ammunition and items of clothing and berets.

Other items were the 3 Hillux vans used by the attackers.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 7 Toyota Hilux vans belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as the Commission’s collation centre and store house containing over 50 generating sets were burnt by the attackers.

While one of the vans was shot at by the police, the second one ran into an electric pole while trying to escape and was demobilised, while the third was abandoned by the attackers.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, in his speech expressed happiness about the success recorded in repelling the attackers.

He said: “The damage is not substantial because the police was able to contain them. The areas affected was the open space we use for our collation

“We lost six operational vehicles, they also burnt our collation centre and a part of our store house. It would have been worse, but I thank the police for their efforts.”

Investigation showed that the attackers entered the INEC compound through the back fence after pulling down a part of the fence and deployed the use of improvised explosive to set the vehicles, generators on fire.