The Anambra State Police Command has killed over 10 hoodlums and destroyed three camps harbouring suspected criminals in Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area.

The police during the operation recovered a human skull, one locally made rocket propelled grande RPG launcher, two (RPG) bombs, one single-barrel long gun, and an empty chain of bullets from the criminals.

The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. According to him, the attack on the suspected criminals took place on Friday.

Ikenga said the suspected criminals had earlier captured two policemen and a civilian. The victims joined the police in their operation, with the aim of recovering a stolen vehicle.

The police, however, reinforced and dislodged the suspected criminals, leading to the killing of 10 of them, while many others escaped with bullet wounds.

“During the operation, police recovered a human skull, one locally made rocket propelled grande RPG launcher, two (RPG) bombs, one single-barrel long gun, and an empty chain of bullets.

“Other recovered items include; one Toyota Sienna, one Mercedes Benz 4matic SUV, two cylinders, a huge quantity of hard drugs and other items, including a police beret and a police belt,” he said.

According to Ikenga, the discovery followed a counter-offensive operation launched against criminal elements who had on 15/7/2022 laid an ambush against a 6- man police team and a civilian car tracker who were on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon.

“The vehicle was earlier snatched at gunpoint on 9/7/2022 in Oye-Agu Abagana. Four of the police operatives escaped the ambush, while two of the police operatives and the car tracker were captured by the criminals.

“Unfortunately, some of the hoodlums escaped with bullet wounds. They (hoodlums) had murdered their captives (two policemen and a civilian) and set their bodies ablaze.

“The remains of the two murdered police officers and the civilian car-tracker have been recovered and deposited in a morgue, while police operation is still ongoing in the area to track the fleeing gang members,” he said.

Ikenga quoted the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Echeng Echeng, to have condoled with the families and friends of the murdered civilian and the police operatives, describing the incident as a classic example of the risk and sacrifices the police are exposed to in the onerous task of serving and protecting the country.

Echeng also assured the Anambra people that efforts are being intensified towards a total reclamation and domination of all the public spaces occupied by hoodlums in the state by apprehending and bringing them and their accomplices to justice. (Daily Trust)

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