No fewer than four police officers were killed on Friday night following an attack on Agwa Divisional Police headquarters in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that the gunmen also razed part of the police headquarters and vehicles during the attack.

Some residents of the community disclosed that the assailants struck at about 10 p.m. on Friday, shooting indiscriminately.

“It was this morning that we heard that they were criminals and they attacked the police division, killed four policemen, and burnt vehicles there,” one of the residents, who declined to be named, said.

Confirming the attack, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, attacked the station with explosive device and freed some detainees in the station.

Barde stated that four police officers were killed in the attack.

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“On 05/8/2022 at about 2300 hours, hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) attacked Agwa Police Station in their numbers.

“The hoodlums who came in two vehicles and a tipper, shooting sporadically, used a tipper vehicle in forcing the gate open to gain entrance into the station, throwing Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs.

“The police operatives of the division joined by the command’s tactical teams gave the hoodlums a stiff resistance, engaging them in a gun duel.

“The hoodlums, who were fatally hit with a lot of casualty on their side, retreated, escaping in their vehicles,” the police commissioner stated.

Barde said fire from the explosives affected a parked private vehicle in the premises of the station while some motorcycles were also affected, adding that the main building was not affected.

“In the attack, two suspects in custody escaped, four police officers gallantly paid the supreme price, while one rifle is yet to be recovered,” he added.

The Star