Suspected hoodlums have set ablaze the Neni Police station in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra state.

Armed assailants also allegedly ignited flames at the Anaocha Local Government Headquarters, chanting hostile songs directed at the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

A few days earlier, gunmen had attacked the Awgbu police station, resulting in the deaths of two officers, while another narrowly escaped.

According to sources, the assault on the local government headquarters occurred between 3 am and 4 am today (Thursday).

The Nation equally gathered that the hoodlums whisked away some police operatives, including female police personnel at the police station.

The source said the hoodlums alleged that Anaocha Police Station had become another SARS station.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Anambra state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident.

He stated that though the hoodlums attacked the police station with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), they however, did not take away any arms, and did not whisk away any police personnel.

He said the hoodlums were successfully repelled by the superior firepower of the police operatives who engaged them and forced them to flee.

He further said the police operations were still ongoing in the area as of the time he was reacting to the development.

 He promised to communicate further developments on the incident later.

On the killing of the policemen at Awgbu police station by the gunmen, he refused to react to it, but a senior officer confirmed it to The Nation.

The source said the command was on the trail of the hoodlums, adding, “They want to scare those ready for the Easter holidays, but we are ready for them.”

A resident, who preferred anonymity, informed The Nation that gunmen had been conducting operations in several villages unknown to many, suggesting that Anambra was not as secure as some had assumed.

[TheNation]