By Francesca Hangeior
The Anambra State Police Command said its Joint Security Force had intensified the manhunt for insurgents who attacked two police stations in the state recently.
Some yet-to-be-identified assailants had last Thursday set ablaze the Police Divisional Headquarters in Nneni, Anaocha Local Government Area of state.
It was gathered that the hoodlums invaded the facility in the early hours and threw explosive devices that burnt parts of the building.
One of the residents of the area told journalists that the hoodlums were attempting to free some inmates at the facility but were unsuccessful as policemen on duty repelled the attack.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said that based on the attack on the police formations, the joint security force, on the orders of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, raided the hideouts of the gunmen.
Ikenga said the hunt for the gunmen had been extended to Obofia Forest, Aguluezuchukwu, and Ogboji areas.
He said, “On April 2, 2024, the police-led Forward Operating Base that is highly mobile struck the insurgents camps in the aforementioned areas.
“Insurgents who had deployed in various locations in ambush were engaged in fierce firefight and were routed from their enclaves which were subsequently destroyed.
“High calibre ammunition, cartridges, a locally fabricated rocket launcher, police uniforms, and one Ford pick-up truck without number plate were recovered.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who ordered the operation, has vowed that it would be sustained until the insurgents are completely routed from Anambra State.
“He has charged troops and personnel involved in the operations to sustain the tempo until the state is made completely safe from cowardly guerrilla attacks by the insurgents.”