In the early hours of Tuesday, suspected secessionists launched a deadly attack on the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, resulting in the death of a police corporal and injuries to several others.
According to a source, the gunmen also targeted the nearby Oba Civic Centre during the assault.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but it coincided with a recent declaration by secessionist leader Simon Ekpa, who called for a month-long campaign against government establishments in the South-East, beginning on August 28, 2024.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that a joint security operation involving the Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and other agencies is currently underway in Oba and surrounding areas.
SP Ikenga revealed that the assailants fired sporadically and threw petrol bombs, igniting fires in several offices at the police station and the 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,” the PPRO stated.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on the soul of the nation. He vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
