Causalities As Police, Hoodlums Clash
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have engaged armed hoodlums in an exchange of gunfire that left several of the hoodlums injured.
It was gathered that during the incident which occurred at Uli, Amorka, along the Onitsha-Owerri Road axis of Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, late on Saturday, two suspects were arrested, while one pump action gun and two motorbikes were recovered.
The spokesman for the state police command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, adding that a joint security team comprising police operatives attached to Uli Police Station and vigilantes carried out the operation.
He said, “On April 19, 2025, a joint security team comprising of police operatives attached to Uli police station and Uli Vigilantes on patrol of Operation Udo Ga Chi – Zero Kidnapping engaged armed hoodlums on motorbikes in a gun duel and arrested two suspects and recovered one pump action gun and two motorbikes along Uli, Amorka, along Onitsha-Owerri Road.
“The suspects, Chigozie Johnson and Umuerima Oguta, both males between the age bracket of 30-32 years, confessed to being among members of the criminal gang and were on an evil mission before they were arrested.
“Meanwhile, during the police operative’s search in a nearby bush, a lot of blood stains were observed – an indication that some of the gang members escaped with bullet wounds.
“In the light of this development, the command urges all proprietors of private and public hospitals to admit, but report any individual presented with bullet wounds or injuries of a suspicious nature to the nearest police station.”
According to him, this measure is critical to the ongoing effort to apprehend the fleeing suspects and prevent further escalation of criminal activities in the state.
“The command remains committed to maintaining security dominance through sustained patrols and targeted security operations in the state,” he added.
