A group of armed arsonists set the Divisional Police station in Ihiala ablaze on Wednesday morning causing residents to panic and forcing travelers along the Onitsha-Owerri road to bypass Ihiala using the Okija-Uli road.
The attackers reportedly arrived at the police station in large numbers and shot sporadically to scare police officers on duty away, before setting the building on fire.
Police said they threw explosives into the premises and the building was affected, but no one was hurt and no arrest was made.
Anambra state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga said, “Our operatives in the early hours of today, 28/12/2022 engaged some gunmen who attacked Ihiala police divisional headquarters and recovered one abandoned AK47 rifle.
“The gunmen escaped the scene due to the superior firepower of the police operatives, and no casualty was recorded.
“Unfortunately, the explosives the gunmen threw inside the police station had already ignited a fire and affected the building.
“The fire has been put off and operation is still ongoing in the area.”
According to Vanguard, an eyewitness disclosed that the hooligans also attacked some commercial motorcyclists with machetes.
“Youth gangs with weapons attacked Ihiala Police Station yesterday and most of the structures were brought to ruin. Machete attack on Okada riders has continued since then and sporadic gunshots are still heard around the area," said the eyewitness.
The affected Police headquarters is located along the Onitsha-Owerri Express road.
Crime.
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