Attack On Gov Soludo’s Chief Of Staff Leaves 2 Cops Dead
Two police officers were killed after unidentified gunmen on Sunday night, May 3, attacked a convoy of the Chief Of Staff to Anambra State’s Governor Chukwuma Soludo, along the Amansea-Ufuma area of Awka, the state capital.
The attack, which involved the convoy of the Chief of Staff to Soludo, Chief Ben Nwankwo, reportedly occurred at about 8:30 p.m., leaving two police officers dead and several civilians affected.
The Chief of Staff escaped unhurt.
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, who confirmed the incident, said all formations and operational units of the Command had been given a 48-hours ultimatum to apprehend the attackers responsible for the killing of the two police officers.
Eyewitness accounts say, the officers were fatally wounded when repelling the attack on the convoy of the top Anambra State government official on the lonely Ufuma route in the dark night.
Addressing officers, CP Orutugu described the assault as a direct attack on the authority of the state and vowed that it would not go unanswered.
“I want you to fish out the attackers and the killers of our officers. I demand immediate action to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” the Commissioner declared.
“I want results. The people of Anambra State must know that the police are fully in charge and ready to protect them.”
He further announced the launch of what he termed “Operation Fish Them Out,” stressing that criminal elements would no longer be allowed to exploit the cover of night to carry out violent attacks in the state.
“This kind of killing cannot happen under my watch. We must bring the perpetrators to justice and put an end to their activities,” he added.
The police chief stated that he could not remain silent while officers under his command continued to lose their lives in the line of duty, insisting that the slain officers must be avenged through swift operational action.
Orutugu also raised concerns over emerging criminal tactics, warning that intelligence reports indicated that some attackers now disguise themselves in police and military uniforms to carry out illicit operations.
“The general public is hereby advised to be vigilant concerning persons operating at various checkpoints, as some miscreants now wear security uniforms while carrying out criminal activities,” he warned.
The Commissioner further cautioned motorists and commuters using the Amansea–Ufuma Road, describing it as a vulnerable and isolated route that has increasingly become a hotspot for criminal ambushes.
He urged travellers to exercise heightened caution when moving through the axis, especially at night.
“The Amansea–Ufuma Road is a particularly isolated route. Commuters and members of the public should exercise caution while using the road, as it has, in recent times, become a den of criminal elements,” he said.
Despite the grim development, CP Orutugu reassured residents that the Command remains fully committed and operationally prepared to restore normalcy and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.
He expressed confidence that decisive breakthroughs would be achieved within the 48-hour window, noting that intensified intelligence-led operations had already commenced.
