The police in Anambra State, located in the South-east region of Nigeria, have announced the successful destruction of camps belonging to gunmen who recently targeted police facilities in the state. This development was confirmed by Tochukwu Ikenga, the police spokesperson in the state, in a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.
Earlier, it was reported that gunmen had bombed the Neni Police Divisional Headquarters in Anaocha Local Government Area, as well as attacked a police facility in Awgbu, a community in Orumba North Local Government Area.
Superintendent of Police Tochukwu Ikenga revealed that on Friday, in collaboration with other security agencies, police operatives raided and dismantled some of the camps used by the criminals to launch these attacks. However, he did not specify the other security agencies involved.
The operation, ordered by the Commissioner of Police Aderemi Adeoye, targeted camps situated in Ogbunka, Orumba South Council Area. During the operation, six improvised explosive devices set for future attacks and two walkie talkies were discovered and confiscated. Additionally, significant quantities of food and groceries were recovered. All the camps were subsequently destroyed to deny the assailants a base for further assaults.
Ikenga emphasized that the operation was ongoing with the objective of eliminating the terrorists, rescuing abducted victims, and recovering firearms and stolen vehicles in their possession. He assured the residents of Anambra State that the police would continue to serve them selflessly despite the risks involved. The commissioner urged residents to cooperate with the police by identifying hideouts used by the insurgents and assured them that their identities would be protected to prevent any potential backlash.
In recent times, attacks on police facilities have become increasingly common in Anambra State and other states within the South-east region. Gunmen have targeted and destroyed numerous police facilities, as well as offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission. These acts of violence have resulted in the loss of lives, including those of security personnel, traditional leaders, and government officials.
While the Nigerian government has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the attacks, the group has consistently denied any involvement. IPOB is an organization advocating for the creation of an independent state of Biafra, encompassing parts of the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria.