Two police officers have been killed after unidentified gunmen attacked a patrol team in Anambra State, raising fresh security concerns in an area that had experienced relative calm in recent months.
The attack reportedly occurred on Sunday night along the Awa–Ndiukwuenu–Ufuma Road in Orumba North Local Government Area, where the assailants ambushed officers of the Anambra State Police Command who were on routine patrol.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the gunmen opened fire on the officers, leaving at least two policemen dead at the scene. A police patrol vehicle was also seen abandoned by the roadside following the attack.
A tricycle rider who claimed to have witnessed the incident said he was travelling along the road when he suddenly heard heavy gunfire ahead. Fearing for his safety, he reportedly abandoned his vehicle and fled into nearby bushes.
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According to the witness, he later returned after the shooting subsided and discovered the bodies of two police officers lying on the road beside their patrol vehicle.
He said he believed one of the officers might still have been alive at the time and appealed for urgent intervention from security authorities.
The incident has sparked concerns among residents, especially as Anambra had witnessed a significant reduction in violent attacks following intensified security operations against armed groups and criminal elements operating in parts of the state.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Anambra State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. The command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, could not be reached, and no formal statement had been issued regarding the attack.
Security agencies are expected to launch investigations aimed at identifying and apprehending those responsible for the killing of the officers.
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