No fewer than 23 persons have been arrested in connection with the attack on a police station in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government of Area, LGA, of Anambra State.
The hoodlums stole one AK-47 rifle belonging to the command.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP, Mr. Sam Okaula, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday said some of the hoodlums from Abagana community have been charged to court, adding that more arrests would be made.
According to the CP, the report of the attack was contained in a petition by the elders of Ukpo community to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
He noted that the petition signed by the community’s lawyer, Mr. I.M. Anah, dated 5th of September, 2016, alleged that the hoodlums were hired by their neigbouring Abagana community, who were having a land dispute with Ukpo.
The petition reads, “Some mischievous or disgruntled indigenes of Abagana town, who are identifiable with their mercenaries, are the people that conspired, masterminded and carried out the murder, terrorist and arsonist attacks.
“The attacks were unleashed on Ukpo community on the 19th August, 2016 in which an Ukpo indigene by name Emmanuel Chiagozie Okafor was gunned down and murdered in cold blood.
“Four policemen were heavily wounded by the hoodlums and they are still struggling in the hospital to survive.
“The community had a judgment of an Anambra High Court, the land in question belonged to Ukpo.
“Abagana people filed an appeal against the said judgment but the appeal as filed was struck out for want of prosecution on 4th of February, 2013”, the petitioners stated.”
The traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Robert Eze, and the President General of the community, Group Captain Benson Okoye (rtd), implored the police to bring the culprits to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for the Abagana community, Emma Ifeadike had accused an oil magnate in Ukpo of paying the police to do his bidding.
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