Gunmen Kill Two Police Officers in Imo State Attack

In a sad incident on Thursday morning, two police operatives were killed in an attack by gunmen in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, located in Nigeria’s South-east region. The attack took place around 6 a.m. at Umuluole Junction along the Okigwe-Umuahia Expressway.

The assailants, numbering about 25, ambushed the officers during their patrol duties, fatally shooting two of them on the spot. The gunmen also set fire to a police pickup truck and made away with three AK-47 rifles belonging to the operatives. The identities of the slain officers, including an inspector, are being withheld until their families are informed.

Imo State Police spokesperson Henry Okoye confirmed the attack in a statement on Friday. According to Mr. Okoye, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, has deployed tactical units and operational resources to track down the attackers. The commissioner also visited the scene of the incident, assuring local residents of their safety during the festive season.

Okigwe Local Government Area Chairperson Nkechi Mbonu joined the police commissioner during the visit and pledged continued support for security agencies. Sariki Hausawa of Gariki Market, Muhazu Mohammed, also expressed his commitment to assisting security forces with intelligence to ensure community safety.

Imo State, like other parts of Nigeria’s South-east, has witnessed escalating insecurity, with frequent attacks targeting security personnel, government officials, and public facilities. The Nigerian government has attributed many of these attacks to the separatist group IPOB, which seeks to establish an independent state of Biafra in the region. IPOB, however, has consistently denied involvement in such violent incidents.

The police have reiterated their resolve to restore peace in the area and bring the perpetrators to justice.