Two police officers attached to the Anambra State Police Command have been killed following an attack on the convoy of the Chief of Staff to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, along the Ndiukwuenu–Amansea Road.
The incident, which occurred late Sunday night, reportedly involved heavily armed gunmen who opened fire on the convoy, triggering a fierce gun battle with security operatives escorting the government official.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers ambushed the convoy and began shooting sporadically, forcing the police officers to engage them in a gun duel to protect the principal and other occupants of the convoy.
A video circulating online from the scene showed an abandoned police Hilux vehicle riddled with bullets, while the bodies of the slain officers were seen lying nearby after the exchange of gunfire.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the officers paid the ultimate price while courageously defending members of the convoy and ensuring the safe evacuation of the Chief of Staff and other occupants.
“Two of our officers were fatally wounded while repelling the attack on the convoy of the Chief of Staff. They made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the principal and other members of the convoy escaped safely,” Ikenga stated.
He disclosed that security operatives have launched an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators, while the affected area has been cordoned off to facilitate ongoing investigations and security operations.
The police spokesman appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist in tracking down the attackers.
While speculation has emerged that the attack may have been an assassination attempt on the Chief of Staff, the police dismissed such claims, describing the incident as a criminal attack rather than a targeted assassination plot.
“For me, it was not an assassination attempt. This appears to be criminals trying to attack someone. It was not that he was specifically targeted. It was an attack that could have happened to anyone,” Ikenga explained.
The latest attack has heightened security concerns in parts of Anambra State, with residents calling for intensified security measures to curb the activities of armed criminal groups operating in the region.
Meanwhile, authorities have assured citizens that every effort is being made to apprehend those responsible and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
