Security forces on Tuesday foiled an attempt by heavily armed gunmen to burn down the Orji Divisional Headquarters located at Owerri-Okigwe Road.
People ran helter and skelter and motorists abandoned their vehicles as sporadic shootings was heard in different direction.
But a combined team of policemen, air force, and soldiers engaged the hoodlums numbering about 20 in fierce battle, and arrested five of the suspects.
The state police command’s spokesman, Bala Elkana who confirmed the attack, said the police and others were able to repel the gunmen and prevented them from destroying the police station.
According to him, some hoodlums in their number launched an offensive on the reconstruction site of Orji Divisional Headquarters which was earlier burnt by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest in 2020.
The hoodlums, he said, believed that the re-establishment of a functional police station might prevent them from carrying out their nefarious acts in Orji and environs, hence the decision to invade the construction site.
Elkana further stated that before the arrival of reinforcement team, the hoodlums melted into the neighbouring townships area but abandoned their operational vehicles, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc personally led an enforcement team to the scene.
He said the whole area was cordoned off and that five suspects were arrested, adding that no life was lost, while three vehicles were recovered.
The arrested suspects are, Chigaemezu Sabastine, 26; Casmir Ibe, 36; John Chinonso, 24; Chukwudi Okoro, 28 and Alozie Daberechi, 25.
Leave a Reply