On Wednesday, combined police patrol teams along the Abatete–Eziowelle road in Anambra State were apparently the target of a concerted armed attack by gunmen suspected of being members of the prohibited Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which resulted in the injuries of an officer and the removal of two service weapons.
Zagazola Makama claims that the attackers drove a white Toyota Hummer bus, a black Lexus 350 SUV, and a white Toyota Highlander, all of which had unidentified registration numbers. They were armed with AK-47 rifles and general-purpose machine guns.
The assailants opened fire on members of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad, Awka, State Headquarters, and the Department of Operations (DOPS) while wearing full military and police uniforms. The insurgents were forced to flee after a bloody gunfight with the patrol teams.
The DOPS patrol pickup vehicle was damaged and showered with gunfire during the gunfight, while the attackers’ rounds hit the Special Anti-Cultism Squad patrol bus, putting it on fire.
Inspector Uduak Anthony of MOPOL 29 Awka, a member of the DOPS patrol squad, lost his Type 06 rifle (Breech No. 10967) carrying 35 rounds of ammo during the operation, according to sources who spoke to the aforementioned platform. The rifle slipped from his grasp as he ran for cover. The militants carried the weapon away.
According to reports, the gunmen stole a Mercedes-Benz SUV from Eze Tochukwu, an Enugu State driver, and drove toward Umuoji in Idemili North LGA.
The assailants saw two police inspectors working for former Anambra Governor and former Labor Minister Senator Chris Ngige at Umuoji. The militants ambushed and opened fire on the cops, Insp. Eniobong Roberts of 29 PMF Awka and Insp. Udezike Kingsley of DOPS, who were traveling in a car.
While Insp. Roberts confronted the assailants and forced them to abandon the stolen Mercedes Benz SUV, which was subsequently found by police, Insp. Udezike was shot in the left leg as he tried to seek cover, and his AK-47 rifle was taken.
The Command’s tactical teams are “currently combing suspected hideouts, camps, and escape routes of the terrorists” in order to apprehend the assailants and retrieve the pilfered weapons, a senior police officer informed Zagazola.
