Over 200 hoodlums from Abagana in Njikoka council area, of Anambra State at the weekend took their evil onslaught to Ukpo community in Dunukofia council area and allegedly, burnt two police vehicles and destroyed over five buildings in the area.

The mayhem led to the killing of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ukpo and three other police men as well as the security guard on duty at the arena identified as Emmanuel Okafor.

Following the incident, the state Police Command, has arrested 23 persons in connection with the killing and destruction.

Addressing Journalists yesterday at the state command while parading the suspects, the state police commissioner, Mr. Sam Okaula, said that those who were involved in such reprehensible act would never go free saying that the suspects invaded the place with dangerous weapons explosives and descended on the police post, while engaging on heavy firing.

The commissioner said: “It could be seen from the magnitude of this unwarranted attack that the perpetrators obviously embarked on what appears to be like an act of terrorism. Investigation is currently in top gear and those found culpable will definitely face the full wrath of the law.

“The assailants went further to bomb the Police Post and ten room self-contained Police Barracks, having completely burnt down two Police Vehicles. The DPO Ukpo who led a patrol team to the scene was overwhelmed and shot.

“Three other Policemen received various degrees of bullet wounds from the assailants. The DPO and the policemen are presently on admission in the hospital. It will be recalled that prior to the attack, a meeting was held in Owelle Inn belonging to one Emmanuel Nwude, alias Owelle Abagana, where the dastardly plan of attack was hatched.

“I led a team to the scene and based on intelligence report, arrested ten of the assailants from Owelle Guest INN, Abagana. Detectives further arrested eleven other suspects from their various hideouts.

“It is to be noted that a team of Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) identified and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) while recovering another one at the scene.”

The police commissioner added that four Pump Action guns, with two live cartridges, three AK 47 riffles, three locally made pistols, cutlasses and other arms were recovered from the suspects while one of the kingpins, Amobi Ezekwe Ugbo, has not only been arrested but has also made very useful statements to the Police.

Meanwhile, five other suspects were also paraded alongside the suspects for alleged armed robbery with five others who were equally paraded for cult related activities at Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

The Police Commissioner further said that investigations were on going on the cases, adding that those involved in the terrorism act would face the full weight of the law.

It was however, gathered that the ugly menace erupted in the area following a land dispute claimed between Ukpo and Abagana communities where a Police Post is being built.

•File Photo shows suspected criminals recently paraded by the Anambra State Police Command.

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