In the early hours of Tuesday, gunmen suspected to be secessionists attacked the Oba Police Divisional Headquarters in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing one police corporal and injuring others.
The attackers also targeted the Oba Civic Centre, with the motive behind the attack still unknown. However, it coincides with a declaration by secessionist leader Simon Ekpa, who called for a month-long hostility against government establishments in the South-East starting from August 28, 2024.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, stating that a joint security force comprising the Army, Navy, Civil Defence, and other agencies are conducting a joint operation in Oba and its environs.
According to Ikenga, the suspected armed secessionist group shot sporadically and threw petrol bombs, causing fires in some offices and the civic centre. The situation is currently under investigation.
The PPRO’s statement read in part,”The Police-led Joint Security Force comprising the Army, Navy, Civil defence and other security agencies are currently in a joint on-slaught operation within Oba and its environments.
“Following, an attack in the early hours of today 3/9/2024 on Oba Police Divisional Headquarters and Oba Civic Centre. The suspected armed successionist group started shooting sporadically in an attempt to gain entrance to the Police Station and threw petrol bombs at the security facility which made some of the offices catch up with 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.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, while condemning the act, described the invasion of security facilities and hostility towards security agents as an attack on the soul of a nation and vows to bring those behind the unholy act to book.”
