The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has visited Ndiukwuenu community in Orumba North Local Government Area, where gunmen killed two police officers and two civilians in a deadly attack on Sunday night.
Orutugu led a joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, the Anambra State Police Command, and the Agunechemba Security Squad to assess the crime scene and coordinate ongoing efforts to apprehend the attackers.
The assailants ambushed the convoy of the Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Chief Ben Nwankwo, along the Amansea–Ndiora–Ndiukwuenu–Awa–Ufuma Road. Investigations have confirmed that four people comprising two police officers and two civilians travelling in the convoy, lost their lives in the attack.
During the visit on Monday evening, the police commissioner conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas, reassured residents of the community, and supervised the deployment of tactical teams to support investigations.
He also ordered a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators and directed the deployment of specialised forensic assets to aid efforts to track and arrest those responsible.
“This is an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scenes to personally evaluate the situation,” Orutugu said.
“A full-scale manhunt and the deployment of specialised forensic assets to track the perpetrators have been initiated. We urge members of the community to work closely with the Command’s Rapid Response Squad by providing credible intelligence that will facilitate the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack.”
The commissioner, however, criticised the community leadership, including the councillor and president-general, for allegedly failing to promptly alert security agencies about criminal activities in the area.
Operatives of the Agunechemba Security Squad claimed that the attackers operate from Awka, the state capital, and use a white sport utility vehicle to launch attacks on neighbouring communities before retreating.
The outfit’s Publicity Secretary, Nweke Nweke, said intelligence gathered by the squad indicates that the suspects are not residents of the affected communities.
“We have maintained close surveillance on these criminals and can state categorically that they are not from this area. They come from Awka, carry out their operations in a guerrilla-style manner, and retreat to the capital city,” he said.
According to him, intensified security operations within Awka have forced the criminals to shift their activities to nearby communities.
“Because our operatives have increased pressure within the capital city, they now target neighbouring communities close to Awka. We are collaborating with other security agencies through joint patrols and intelligence-sharing efforts to bring their activities to an end.
“Significant progress has been made in intelligence gathering, and indications show that we are closing in on the perpetrators,” Nweke added.
Nweke further disclosed that information provided by residents has played a crucial role in ongoing investigations.
As part of efforts to strengthen the manhunt, security agencies have enlisted the councillor representing Ndiukwuenu Ward, the community’s President-General, and the Vice President-General to support intelligence gathering and tracking operations.
Security personnel also took control of key flashpoints within the community and combed surrounding forests and bushes in search of the attackers’ hideouts.
During the operation, operatives arrested a suspect dressed in police camouflage, while investigations continue.
