Update: Police Arrest Five In Tuesday’s Attack On Owerri Police Division |The Source

By Charles Igbo

After what seemed like a successful attack Tuesday afternoon on the Orji Police Division, Owerri, security personnel rallied round, and arrested five of the hoodlums who carried out the attack.

Gunmen, shockingly, cheered on by a few residents as the paraded the road on foot, and vehicles, attacked the Orji Police Division, setting it on fire.

That will be the second attack on the Division. It was undergoing reconstruction, having been earlier set ablaze during the #EndSARS potest.

But the attack, Tuesday, was brazen as it was carried out in the afternoon, just about 1.30pm, and lasted for about 90 minutes, as the gunmen exchanged gunfire with Security personnel.

But in a counter- attack and mop-up operation personally led by the Commissioner of Police, CP Abutu Yaro, the hoodlums were dislodged, and five of them arrested. They are in custody.

Taken into custody, too, are two of the vehicles they came in, but abandoned in the face of superior fire power.

Following, is a Statement on the incident, signed on behalf  of the Imo Police Command by its Spokesperson, SP Bala Elkana.

“On 25th May, 2021 at about 1302hours, some hoodlums in their numbers launched an offensive on the reconstruction site of Orji Divisional Headquarters which was earlier burnt by hoodlums during the End SARS protest  in 2020. A philanthropist contracted the reconstruction project.

“The hoodlums,  who believed that the re-establishement of a functional Police station may prevent them from carrying out their nefarious acts in Orji and environ, decided to invade the construction site.

“Before the arrival of reinforcement team, the hoodlums melted into the neighbouring townships area but abandoned their operational vehicles. The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc, personally led an enforcement team to the scene.

“The whole area was cordoned and five suspects, namely Chigaemezu Sabastine ‘m’ 26years old, Casmir Ibe ‘m’ 36years old, John Chinonso ‘m’ 24years old, Chukwudi Okoro ‘m’ 28years and Alozie Daberechi ‘m’ 25years old were arrested. No life was lost. Three vehicles were recovered.

“Meanwhile, mop up operation is on going to arrest more suspects and recover their firearms.”