No fewer than three police officers were killed when gunmen attacked the Ogidi Area Command of the Nigeria Police in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that the masked hoodlums invaded the police facility in large numbers in the early hours of Saturday.
The Ogidi attack made it the sixth attack carried out on police facilities in Anambra in February 2023.
Sources in the area said the hoodlums started shooting indiscriminately on approaching the police station and threw explosive devices and petrol bombs into the police building before gaining access.
When our correspondent visited the area on Saturday, residents were seen lamenting the midnight attack in groups.
One of the landlords in the area, who gave his name as Chief John Ezeudo, expressed worry that the sudden upsurge in attacks on facilities belonging to security agencies in the state had yet to be addressed.
Ezeudo said, “The continuous attacks on facilities belonging to the security agencies and their inability to halt the sudden upsurge has given the hoodlums the impunity to continue the attack. The midnight attack threw the community into panic and fear and kept us awake all night.
“It is high time the police came out of their comfort zone and tackled this rising menace before it consumes us. There is also a serious need for a total overhauling of the security architecture in Anambra.”
Similarly, the Deputy Coordinator of Ohanaeze in the state, Mr Chidi Akama, took a swipe at the security operatives, accusing them of jettisoning their primary assignment of securing life and property.
“We are witnessing the upsurge of attacks on security facilities because the police might have compromised in their duties. Although these hoodlums are claiming to be doing this in the name of agitations, it is now left for the police to speak to them in the language they (hoodlums) understand which they have failed to do.
“There is also a need for serious overhauling of the security architecture in the state. The security operatives must come out from their comfort zone to tackle this menace,” Akama added.
Confirming the Ogidi incident, the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the situation has been brought under control as the police command remained resolute to enhance the safety of life and property in the state.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command has reinforced security in the Idemili North area of the state, following the attack on the Ogidi area command in the early hours of today, February 18, 2023, where three police operatives paid the supreme price.
“However, the command observed with grave concern the loss of lives and valuables as a result of this attack, calls for calm as the police are resolute in depriving these criminal elements of the space, they desire to perpetrate their evil acts and enhance the safety of life and property in the state.
“Meanwhile, the incident is being accessed and Police operations are still ongoing.”
(Punch)
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