Anambra State Government to Find Killers of Policemen and Civilians

The Anambra State Government has promised to find and punish the gunmen who killed two police officers and two civilians. This happened during an attack on the convoy of Chief Ben Nwankwo, the Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

The attack took place on Sunday night along the Amansea, Ndiora, Ndiukwuenu, Awa, Ufuma Road. The assailants ambushed the convoy as it was returning from an official event.

Sources say Nwankwo had gone to an event on behalf of Governor Soludo and was heading back to Awka when the convoy was attacked with heavy gunfire.

Though the Chief of Staff was unharmed, two police officers and two civilians lost their lives. Some others in the convoy also suffered injuries during the shooting, which lasted several minutes.

Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers hid in bushes nearby and started shooting as the convoy approached. This caused panic in the surrounding areas.

Law Mefor, the state Commissioner for Information and Value Orientation, expressed shock at the attack and condemned the killings.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Mefor said the government stands with the families of the victims. He assured residents that security agencies are working hard to catch those responsible for the crime.

The statement said, "The Anambra State Government is shocked by the attack on the convoy of the Chief of Staff to the Governor on Sunday night, May 31, 2026, between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Orumba North, Awka South border while returning from an official assignment.

"This was more than an attack on one person. It was an attack on the peace, security and democratic order of our state, as well as the government and people of Anambra.

"Sadly, four people lost their lives and deserve justice.

"The Anambra State Government sends its deepest condolences to the families of those who died and shares in their grief.

"The police and other security agencies are working to find and bring everyone involved in this evil act to justice.

"This isolated incident, coming after more than one year of relative peace and security in the state, will not weaken our determination to eliminate all forms of crime from Anambra."

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, led a joint team on Monday. This team included members of the Nigerian Army, the Anambra State Police Command, and the Agunechemba Security Squad. They went to the Ndiukwuenu community in Orumba North Local Government Area, where the attack happened.

Orutugu assessed the crime scene, reassured the residents, and oversaw tactical teams sent to investigate. He ordered a full-scale search for the attackers and sent forensic teams to help with the investigation.

He also criticized local leaders, including the councillor and president-general, for not quickly informing security agencies about suspicious activities in the area.

According to him, "This is an on-the-spot assessment of the crime scene to personally evaluate the situation.

"A full-scale manhunt and the deployment of specialised forensic assets to track the perpetrators have been put in place.

"We charge the local community to work closely with the Rapid Response Squad of the Command to facilitate the arrest and prosecution of those behind the attack through intelligence gathering."

Officials from the Agunechemba Security Squad, who were with the police commissioner, claimed the attackers come from Awka. They use a white sport utility vehicle to attack neighbouring communities before returning to the capital.

Nweke Nweke, the outfit’s publicity secretary, said they have been watching the suspects closely.

"We have kept a close watch on these criminals, and we can state categorically that they are not residents of the area. They come from Awka, carry out their operations in a guerrilla-style manner, and then retreat to the capital city.

"This is largely because our outfit has intensified operations within Awka, making it difficult for them to perpetrate their criminal activities there. As a result, they now target neighbouring communities close to the capital.

"We are already working in collaboration with other security agencies through joint patrol operations to nip the crime in the bud. Significant progress has been made in intelligence gathering, and this indicates that we are closing in on the perpetrators," he added.

Nweke mentioned that information from residents has greatly helped the ongoing investigations.

He also revealed that the councillor, president-general, and vice president-general of the Ndiukwuenu community have joined security operatives in the search for the attackers.

During the operation, security personnel controlled major hotspots in the community and searched nearby bushes for the gunmen’s hideouts. One suspect, who was dressed in police camouflage, was arrested during the operation.