GUNMEN attacked the Nkporo Divisional Police Headquarters in Abia State’s Ohafia Local Government Area, on Monday and took away weapons from the police station.
The gunmen reportedly invaded the police division in three Toyota Sienna vehicles, assaulted officers on the scene, broke into the divisional armoury, and seized one AK-47 weapon with 30 rounds of live ammunition.
The perpetrators were also stated to have escaped with two riot gunners and an unknown amount of ammunition.
It was learned that the police officers who were injured in varied degrees during the invasion were brought to a local hospital and were receiving medical attention.
Ogbonna said, “The criminals broke into the station’s armoury and carted away one AK 47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, two riot gunners and yet-to-be ascertained quantity of ammunition.
“They also made away with sets of service uniforms kept in the armoury and offices belonging to the armourer and other policemen in the station. Three police constables among those on duty sustained varying degrees of injury.”
According to Ogbonna, the coordinated effort of the police and the military culminated in the recovery of one abandoned Toyota Sienna vehicle with some service uniforms, shoes and personal effects.
He noted that two of the injured officers were still being treated in the hospital, while one had been treated and released.
The police spokesman said an investigation had began with a view to retrieving the stolen weaponry and ammunition as well as arresting the criminals, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Bala, had visited the police station for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
He added, “The state Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Bala, during a visit to the scene, accompanied by the DC Operations, DCP E.S Bretet, and later joined by the Chairman, Ohafia Local Government Area, Chief James Ndukwe, remarked that the porosity of the station made it possible for the hoodlums to invade the premises.
“Bala called on the state, local government and other critical stakeholders to embrace the principles of community safety partnership to erect fences that will link up with the existing one around the station.
“Furthermore, the CP requests from the general public, useful information that would help in tracking down the hoodlums and recovery of the firearms.”
