Two Police Officers Killed as Hoodlums Attack Abia Station

Two senior police officers have been killed and three others injured following an attack on the Uratta Divisional Police Station in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

The attack occurred at about 2:26 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, when unidentified armed men reportedly stormed the police facility and used explosives, causing a fire that damaged part of the building and a police patrol vehicle.

The Abia State Police Command confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police Maureen Chinaka.

According to the command, the three injured officers were receiving medical treatment following the attack.

The assailants also reportedly destroyed a Toyota vehicle, a power generator and other property at the station.

The state Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, subsequently led an operational team, including tactical units, to the scene as security personnel began efforts to track down those responsible.

Police authorities said investigations were ongoing, while the commissioner urged officers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent a recurrence.

The command also clarified that no firearms or ammunition were taken away by the attackers, countering reports suggesting that weapons might have been stolen during the incident.

Abia State Governor Alex Otti visited the damaged facility alongside the police commissioner to assess the situation. He also visited the injured officers at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba.

The governor reportedly pledged that the state government would cover the medical expenses of the injured personnel.

The attack has raised fresh concerns about the safety of police facilities and security personnel in the state, particularly following previous attacks on security formations in the South-East.

The Uratta Police Station was reportedly attacked in February 2021, when gunmen killed a police sergeant and set a patrol vehicle ablaze.

Authorities have not publicly identified the perpetrators or announced any arrests in connection with Saturday’s incident.

The police said efforts were continuing to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.