One killed as hoodlums attack Anambra police station again

Some hoodlums have attacked the Ogidi Police Station in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, in their large numbers, invaded the area around 2:15am on Monday, in a Toyota Hiace bus, a Toyota Hilux and three motorcycles.

A source in the area said the hoodlums shot indiscriminately in an attempt to gain access into the police station, but were fiercely resisted by the police officers on duty.

Although, details of the incident were still sketchy, eyewitnesses said one of the hoodlums was gunned down in the exchange of gun fire with the security operatives.

The source said the sounds of the gunshots that lasted several minutes created panic around the vicinity and forced residents to stay up throughout the night.

This particular attack would be about the fifth time hoodlums were attacking police facilities in the state since February.

However, the Anambra State police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, said the police operatives did not record any casualty on their side.

Ikenga said, “Police operatives foiled an attack by armed men on the Ogidi Police Station, demobilised one of the armed men, and recovered many expanded cartridges and 25 litres of petrol.

“The hoodlums came in their numbers with an unmarked Toyota Hiace bus, a Toyota Hilux and three motorcycles, started shooting indiscriminately and attempted to gain access to Ogidi Police Station, Idemili North.

“They were fiercely resisted by police officers on duty and due to the superior gunfire of the security operatives, the hoodlums fled the scene while one of the armed men was neutralised by the operatives. The police facility is intact and no casualty was recorded on the side of the police.”

He added that the area had been reinforced by the tactical teams of the command, and “operation is still ongoing. Further details shall be communicated, please.”

(Punch)