Some yet-to-be-identified assailants have burnt the divisional police headquarters in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The assailants, who were in large numbers, reportedly stormed the police facility on Wednesday and shot sporadically, scaring the policemen on duty, before setting the building on fire.
The motive behind the attack could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
It is also not clear if the hoodlums went away with police ammunition.
Although the casualty figure had yet to be ascertained, it was gathered that the fire destroyed the building, property, and official documents.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement.
Ikenga said, “Our operatives in the early hours of today, December 28, engaged some gunmen who attacked Ihiala police divisional headquarters and recovered one abandoned AK-47 rifle. The gunmen escaped the scene due to the superior fire of the police operatives, and no casualty was recorded.
“Unfortunately, the explosives the gunmen threw inside the police station building ignited a fire and affected the building. Operation is still ongoing in the area, further details shall be communicated.”
Meanwhile, the state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, during a state-wide broadcast on Wednesday, asked the youth to take action.
Soludo said, “On March 17, 2022, eight local governments were literally under siege, taken over by criminals and hoodlums in various camps set up in these local governments. But by the grace of God, those eight local governments have been totally liberated.
“We are trying to keep our streets safe from touts and criminals. Though we may never have a crime-free society but comparatively, I don’t know any state in Nigeria that is safer than Anambra.
“These criminals want the security officers out of the road but fortunately, we thank God that they have remained resolute.
“We will continue to provide all the support that we can to all the security forces as government and as people of Anambra.
“The youths must rise and take their destinies in their hands because their future is on the line, the future of their children and grandchildren. It is your future we are keeping awake everyday to secure.
“I want to use this medium again to appeal to those in the bush and forest, the criminals out there, the kidnappers to come out. We are offering them the opportunity to retrain and help them start a new productive life.
“The course you have taken by being in the bush is one that leads to nowhere. It is not going to take you to anywhere. Criminality cannot pay you in the long term.”
