4 POLICE OFFICERS KILLED, 9 POLICE STATIONS BURNT IN #ENDSARS PROTEST IN ANAMBRA
Reporter: UCHE NDEKE –
Nine police stations and two area commands were burnt and destroyed by hoodlums in Anambra State in the last one week.
Also four police officers, including a Divisional Police Officer, lost their lives during the same period.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang, made this known at the police headquarters, Amawbia while parading some suspects apprehended in connection with the incidents in the state .
Radio Nigeria gathered that seventeen of the suspects paraded are indigenes of Anambra State.
The hoodlums, acting under the guise of #EndSARS protest, allegedly attacked police stations in some parts of Anambra State, which resulted in loss of lives, looting and wanton destruction of property.
According to the Commissioner of Police, the hoodlums allegedly murdered four police officers, including a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Mr. Joseph Akpan, who was the Divisional Police Officer of Osumenyi Division and also beheaded one Inspector attached to the Anti Cult Unit.
“In the course of these heinous acts, the hoodlums murdered four (4) Police officers including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Osumenyi Division, CSP Akpan Joseph, ASP Agu Micheal, the Station Officer (SO), Osumenyi Division and a young PC, Udegbunam Sunday Celestine, leaving two (2) others injured.
“In their state of callousness, the hoodlums also murdered and beheaded Insp John Oche attached to the Anti- Cult Unit and burnt his body to ashes parading the streets with the deceased policeman’s head.
“In addition to attacking Police formations, other Government and private facilities such as the Revenue House, Ocha Brigade office and private Trucks loaded with goods were attacked and valuable properties looted,” Mr. Abang lamented.
Mr. Abang said despite the concerted efforts by the hoodlums to create a state of lawlessness in the area, the command stood its ground and repelled their attacks in various formations, including Area Command, Onitsha; Ogidi, Awada; CPS Onitsha, Inland town and B. Division.
He however commended Governor Willie Obiano for his support to the law enforcement agencies and the patriotic youths, traditional rulers, community leaders, vigilance groups and residents of the state, who contributed immensely to the overall success recorded by the Command in calming the situation.
“I will like to commend the patriotic Youths, Traditional/Community leaders, vigilante groups and residents of Anambra State who contributed immensely to the overall successes recorded by the Command in calming the situation and restoring normalcy in the State as well as robust inter agency collaboration.
“May I urge Ndi Anambra and my colleagues in other security agencies to sustain this level of cooperation at all times.
“I want to reiterate my appreciation to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Dr.) Willie M. Obiano for his invaluable support to the law enforcement agencies in the State.
“I also encourage the good people of Anambra State to be security conscious at all times; and report any strange behaviour or suspicious movements to the nearest Police Station or through the Command emergency number 07039194332 for prompt response, please,” he pleaded.
Some of the suspects confessed to the crime while, others denied involvement in the alleged vandalism and looting.
The Commissioner of Police said investigation was on going and efforts being intensified to apprehend other fleeing suspects in order to bring them to book.