- The gunmen had set the bodies of two abducted policemen and a civilian ablaze before the arrival of the Police rescue team
The Anambra State Police Command on Saturday said its operatives killed over 10 gunmen and destroyed their three camps located in Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area of the State.
The Police also said that during the operation, they 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 Anambra State Police Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement that the routing of the gunmen took place on Friday.
Ikenga said the gunmen had earlier kidnapped two policemen and a civilian and the operation was aiming at rescuing the victims and recovering a stolen vehicle.
The Police Spokesperson said that “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.”
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.