Tragedy struck in Isuofia, a town in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Thursday night, following a violent confrontation between armed criminals and security operatives.
The incident, which occurred at a security checkpoint, led to the death of three individuals — two suspected gunmen and one security operative.
According to official reports, the deadly encounter unfolded when a group of armed assailants launched an attack on a checkpoint manned by members of the Anambra Joint Security Taskforce.
The security personnel responded swiftly, engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle. During the exchange of gunfire, two of the gunmen were neutralized while, regrettably, one of the security officers lost his life.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in an official statement issued on Friday. He disclosed that the assailants managed to set ablaze one of the operational vehicles belonging to the security team.
However, the superior firepower of the joint security operatives forced the attackers to retreat, leaving behind one of their operational vehicles — a Toyota Sienna van — as they fled the scene in disarray.
Ikenga stated: “One of the Anambra Joint Security Team in the late evening of 15th May 2025 resisted an attack by armed criminals at the Security checkpoint in Isuofia.
Two of the armed hoodlums were neutralized in the process. Regrettably, one of the security operatives was fatally wounded, while one of the security operational vehicles was burnt by the bandits.
“During the ensuing gun battle and due to the superior firepower of the Joint Security Team, the criminals abandoned one of their operational vehicles, a Toyota Sienna, and fled the scene.”
In reaction to the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate challenge to the collective will of the people of Anambra to live in peace and cooperate with security agencies.
He reassured residents of the state that the command is fully committed to identifying and apprehending all those responsible for what he termed an “unpatriotic act.”
“The Commissioner of Police views the incident as a test of Ndi Anambra’s collective resolve to work with the security forces to dislodge and eliminate criminal elements in the State,” Ikenga added.
In the aftermath of the attack, the police, alongside other security agencies, have intensified patrols in the area. Additional armed personnel have been deployed to comb the surrounding bushes and possible escape routes in an effort to capture the fleeing gunmen.
Authorities have called on residents to remain calm but vigilant, assuring that normalcy has been restored to the affected community. The police also urged the public to provide useful information that may aid in the arrest of the culprits.
Further updates on the incident are expected as investigations continue.