Gunmen suspected to be secessionist on Tuesday morning, launched an attack on the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
It was gathered that during the assault, a police corporal tragically lost his life, while several other officers sustained various injuries.
The attackers did not stop at the police station; they also targeted the nearby Oba Civic Centre, further escalating the violence.
The motives behind these coordinated assaults remain unclear.
However, the attacks coincided with a recent declaration made by Simon Ekpa, a prominent secessionist leader, who called for a month-long campaign of hostilities against government establishments in the South-East region, beginning on August 28, 2024.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident and provided details of the ongoing response.
He stated, “A joint security force comprising the Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and other agencies is currently conducting a joint operation in Oba and its environs.”
Ikenga explained that the suspected secessionist group launched their attack by firing shots indiscriminately and hurling petrol bombs at the police station and the civic center.
The petrol bombs caused fires in several offices within the police facility and at the civic center.
The PPRO’s statement further elaborated on the situation, “The Police-led Joint Security Force comprising the Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and other security agencies are currently in a joint onslaught operation within Oba and its environs.
“Following an attack in the early hours of today, 3/9/2024, on the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters and Oba Civic Centre, the suspected armed secessionist group started shooting sporadically in an attempt to gain entrance to the Police Station and threw petrol bombs at the security facility, which caused some of the offices to catch fire, including the Oba Civic Centre.
“Unfortunately, a police corporal who was fatally wounded paid the supreme price, while the fire was put out with the help of other police officers on duty and the Joint Security responding team.”
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “an assault on the soul of the nation.” He vowed to ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice.
