Again, gunmen kill police officer, prison warders in Anambra

At least one police officer was killed on Friday morning when gunmen attacked the Ekwulobia police station in Aguata local government area of Anambra State.

Two prison officers escorting a suspect from court were also shot dead while the suspect was released in a separate attack in the same area.

The gunmen who attacked the station at about 4 am were repelled by officers on duty when they attempted to set it ablaze. However, one of the officers was shot dead while others sustained severe injuries.

The attacks came barely 12 hours after hoodlums killed some policemen at Neni and three naval ratings at Awkuzu on Thursday evening.

Also, there was an exchange of gunfire between a team of prison officers said to be conveying a suspect from court to Ekwulobia medium Prison and some unknown gunmen at about 10: 30 am on Friday.

The prison officers were accosted by the unknown gunmen but the driver on noticing their vehicle being followed, attempted to divert to Ekwulobia Police Station for safety. However, the gate of the station was locked following the earlier attack.

It was gathered that the driver reportedly parked right in front of the locked station and escaped while the gunmen exchange gunfire with Prison warders guarding the suspect leading to the death of two Officer while the suspect was whisked away by the unknown gunmen.

Speaking on the attack on Ekwulobia police station, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Ikenga Tochukwu said efforts to burn down the rebuilt police station by the hoodlums were repelled by the gallant men on duty.

On the number of policemen killed by the assailants, he said nobody was sure if there were any killings, adding Command was still expecting further reports.