The reign of terror in the Southeast continued yesterday as gunmen killed four policemen, carted away the slain officers’ arms and freed suspects in the police cell in a dawn attack at Iwollo Divisional Police Station, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The hoodlums who reportedly came in numbers; burnt the station, vehicles, motorcycles, other properties and made away with a police van.
A villager said: “We couldn’t sleep as the gunshot persisted. We saw heavy smoke. The attackers were there for over 45 minutes.
“When we got to the station in the morning, I counted four bodies; the entire station was razed. Vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed.”
Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed the killing of four policemen in the attack that occurred at 4am.
The command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said the hoodlums, arrived in numbers, and opened fire on police operatives on duty.
He said several of the assailants escaped with bullet injuries.
“Unfortunately, four of the operatives, who sustained severe gunshot injuries, were later confirmed dead in the hospital, while parts of the station were set ablaze by the assailants,” he said.
Aliyu condoled with the families and friends of the slain officers, who he said paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
He appealed to citizens to promptly volunteer useful information that would assist the command in the ongoing investigation.
He urged operators of medical facilities to promptly report to the police any person or persons found with gunshot injuries.
Recall that on April 21, gunmen killed two police operatives during an attack on Adani Police Station in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state. The station was also set ablaze.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ordered the immediate reconstruction of the razed police divisional headquarters.
Speaking when he visited the scene, he expressed sadness over the act.
The governor, who condoled with the families of the slain policemen, also requested to meet with the families of the deceased.
Ugwuanyi ordered the replacement of the Innoson patrol van and the construction of barricades at the police station.