By Ayodele Oni
Abia State Police command has launched a search for the gunmen who attacked the Uratta Police Station in Aba, in the early hours of Saturday.
Two police officers were killed, while three other people, including a civilian, sustained injuries after the attack.
The attack, which reportedly occurred at about 2.00 a.m., also resulted in significant damage to the police facility, with parts of the building and several vehicles set ablaze by the gunmen.
A Hilux van and other vehicles were reportedly destroyed in the incident, leaving the station severely affected by the violence.
Abia State Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, confirmed the death of the two officers and the injuries sustained by three people, while inspecting the scene alongside Governor Alex Otti on Saturday.
Afolabi disclosed that the injured victims, including a civilian, have been taken to the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba, where they were receiving medical attention.
Describing the aftermath of the attack, the police commissioner said the gunmen set fire to parts of the facility.
“The hoodlums came. Some of the shelters above were set ablaze,” Afolabi said.
The commissioner explained that he arrived at the scene at about 4 a.m. to assess the situation and begin efforts to address the security incident.
He said the immediate priority of the police was to identify the perpetrators, apprehend those responsible and ensure that they were brought to justice.
According to him, no arrests has been made, although security personnel were working to track down the attackers.
“For now, we have not made any arrests, but we are working on that.”
Afolabi assured residents that the police would pursue the suspects and take the necessary steps to ensure accountability for the killings and destruction caused by the attack.
The circumstances surrounding the assault were still being examined, while the identities of the gunmen and their precise motive has not been established in the available information.
However, a source familiar with the incident alleged that the attackers appeared to have targeted the police armoury but found it empty.
The source further claimed that the assailants took away some police uniforms during the operation.
The source also alleged that one of the attackers was shot dead during the incident, but was subsequently taken away by his colleagues.
Following the attack, Governor Otti visited the injured victims at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital to assess their condition and offer support.
His visit came as authorities continued to assess the consequences of the assault, which claimed the lives of two police personnel and left several people injured.
The incident has renewed concerns over attacks on police facilities in the area, particularly given the history of violence involving the same station.
On February 23, 2021, gunmen attacked the Uratta Police Station, killing a police sergeant identified as Okezie and setting fire to a patrol vehicle donated by the Abia State Government.
The recurrence of an attack on the facility has drawn attention to the security challenges confronting police formations and the need to protect officers, public infrastructure and surrounding communities from armed assaults.
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