Gunmen raze down police station, kill four officers in lmo
Rampaging gunmen on Saturday attacked and killed four police officers on duty at the newly constructed Police station in Agwa community, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
The attackers reportedly set ablaze the police station and destroyed the operational vehicles belonging to Agwa Divisional Police Station.
A source from the community was quoted as saying that some police men and women numbering four who were on duty were killed during the attack.
He said: “Gunmen came around 12pm last night with one Tipper vehicle, two Sienna vehicles and launched attack on our community police station shooting sporadically.
“Two police women were burnt to death alongside two other policemen on duty , they also went to the house of one Okada rider known as Ejike in our village and shot him dead and wounded his wife who is now critical as a result of the gunshot injury she sustained.
“The hoodlums operated for about three hours , as I speak with you now, there is palpable fear and anxiety in my community, people are scared of their lives and many have fled to our neighbouring communities for their safety.”
Another source, who do not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that one of the slain officers was only two weeks old in the force.
He said: “One of the officers killed is a new recruit. He is not more than two weeks he became a police officer after the passing out parade.
“This is unbelievable. God should please come to our rescue. The government should please rise up to the occasion. Things are getting out of hand. I don’t know if they want us to run away from our homes. It is now like a war situation. God please help us.”
There were pictures of charred bodues after the gunmen attacked the division and some mangled bodies of the officers lying dead in the poll of their blood.
Another source said that policemen drafted from outside to the division had taken over the area, while the state commissioner of police, Muhammed Barde, was expected to visit the scene.
Efforts to reach Imo State Police spokesman Michael Abattam, a Chief Superintendent Officer, were abortive.
His phone was said to have rang severally without any response.