By Mokobia Rita.
ANAMBRA/Nigeria: A wave of fear swept through parts of Anambra State on Sunday night after unidentified gunmen launched a deadly attack on a police patrol team along the Awa–Ndiukwuenu–Ufuma Road, killing at least two officers in a brazen assault that has raised fresh concerns about security in the state.
The attack, which occurred under yet-to-be-clarified circumstances, marks one of the most serious security breaches recorded in Anambra in recent months, a period during which authorities had intensified operations against criminal gangs and armed groups terrorizing communities across the state.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the gunmen intercepted the police patrol team and opened fire, leaving two officers dead at the scene. Their patrol vehicle was reportedly abandoned by the roadside after the attack, while the assailants fled before security reinforcements could arrive.
A commercial tricycle operator who witnessed the terrifying incident recounted his ordeal in an emotional voice note. According to him, he was travelling along the road when the sound of rapid gunfire shattered the night.
“I immediately abandoned my tricycle and ran into the bush for safety,” he said. “After the gunshots subsided and I felt it was safe to come out, I returned to retrieve my tricycle and continued my journey.
When I got closer to the scene, I saw two policemen lying motionless on the road while their patrol van was parked nearby.”
The visibly shaken witness added that one of the officers appeared to be showing signs of life, prompting him to alert members of the public in the hope that security authorities would respond quickly.
The latest attack has sent shockwaves through nearby communities and sparked fears that violent criminal activities may be resurfacing despite months of relative calm achieved through sustained security operations across the state.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident. Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, proved unsuccessful as his telephone line was unreachable.
Security analysts and residents alike are now calling for a swift investigation to uncover the identities of the attackers and prevent a resurgence of violence in a state that has worked hard to reclaim peace from the grip of armed criminality.
For now, the bloodstains on the lonely stretch of road serve as a grim reminder that while peace may appear restored, the shadows of insecurity can return without warning—leaving families grieving, communities anxious, and authorities under renewed pressure to ensure that those who wear the uniform are not left to face danger alone.
