Gunmen on Tuesday morning attacked the Iwollo Divisional Police Station in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu state.
The Nation learnt that four police personnel were shot and killed in the attack that saw the police facility totally razed.
It was also learnt that most of the vehicles, motorcycles and other property in the premises were equally burnt down.
Village sources, told The Nation that the hoodlums attacked the division in their large numbers in the wee hours of the day.
The station was completely burnt down and the arms of the slain officers taken away after suspects in the cells were freed, our correspondent also learnt.
According to one of them, who craved anonymity, the attack threw the entire Iwollo community into fear and panic throughout the night.
“The men shot sporadically and we couldn’t even sleep, as the gunshot persisted; we started seeing heavy smokes. The attackers were there for more than 45 minutes if not one hour.
“The hoodlums might have also killed probably five gallant police personnel that confronted them when they attacked.
“When we got to the station this morning, I could count up to four dead bodies on the floor and the entire station has been razed down. Their vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed.”
Confirming the incident and casualty, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, Mohammed Aliyu, who led members of his management team and Operational/Tactical Commanders to Iwollo Police Division to on-the-spot assessment to the scene of the attack, said that four policemen were killed in the attack.
He disclosed that the attack by the yet-to-be identified gunmen occurred at about 4.00am Tuesday.
Aliyu, whose confirmation was contained in a release signed by the police spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, said, the hoodlums, who came to the station in their numbers, opened fire on police operatives on duty, but were gallantly resisted.
He added that in the ensuing gun duel, several of the assailants escaped with bullet injuries.
“Unfortunately, four of the Operatives, who sustained severe gunshot injuries, were later confirmed dead in the hospital, while parts of the station was set ablaze by the assailants”, the release said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner, while condoling family members and close friends of the policemen, who unfortunately paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, has ordered the intensification of already launched discreet investigation to fish out the assailants and their cohorts.
He further appealed to law-abiding citizens of the state to promptly volunteer useful information that would assist the command in the ongoing investigation.
He also called on them, especially operators of medical facilities in the state, to promptly report to the police any person or persons found with gunshot injuries.
It would be recalled that on April 21, unknown gunmen shot two police operatives dead during an attack on Adani Police Station in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The station was also set ablaze completely at about 2:30am on that fateful day.
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