The Anambra State Police Command has launched a manhunt for armed attackers who ambushed and killed two police officers along the Amansea–Ndiora–Ndiukwuenu–Awa–Ufuma Road in Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.
The directive was issued by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, during an emergency security meeting held at the command headquarters in Awka, where senior officers and tactical unit heads were briefed on the urgency of the situation.
According to reports, the officers were attacked on Sunday night while returning from an assignment as part of a convoy operation that also included the Chief of Staff to the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. The convoy had reportedly attended an official function before heading back to Awka when it was ambushed.
Although the Chief of Staff escaped unhurt, some civilians in the convoy sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire that lasted several minutes.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers, believed to have been lying in wait along a bush path, opened fire on the convoy as it approached, causing panic among residents and commuters in surrounding communities. Two police officers were later found dead at the scene beside their patrol vehicle.
The police confirmed the incident and said investigations had commenced immediately after the attack, with intensified efforts underway to track down those responsible.
CP Orutugu described the killing as a “heinous act” and ordered a full-scale operation to apprehend the perpetrators, declaring what he called an “Operation Fish Them Out” directive to security units across the state.
He assured residents that the command was fully mobilised to restore safety and prevent further attacks, while urging the public to remain vigilant, especially around checkpoints where criminals may impersonate security personnel using uniforms.
The police commissioner also warned commuters to exercise caution when using the Amansea–Ufuma Road, describing it as a vulnerable stretch that has recently become a hotspot for criminal activity.
He expressed confidence that significant breakthroughs would be achieved within 48 hours as security operations intensify across the affected area.
