Gunmen Kill Two Police Officers in Anambra as CP Orders Massive Manhunt

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu

Gunmen Kill Two Police Officers in Anambra as CP Orders Massive Manhunt

Awka, Anambra State – The Anambra State Police Command has launched an intensive manhunt for the killers of two police officers who were shot dead along the Amansea–Ndiora–Ndiukwuenu–Awa–Ufuma Road in the Orumba South Local Government Area of the state. The directive to fish out the killers was issued on Monday, June 1, 2026, by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, during an emergency security meeting held at the State Police Command Headquarters in Awka, where he briefed senior officers and heads of operational units on the urgency of the situation.

According to police sources, the officers were ambushed and attacked during a convoy operation on Sunday night, May 31, 2026, while returning from an assignment. The attack specifically targeted the convoy of Chief Ben Nwankwo, the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who had attended a function on behalf of the governor and was returning to Awka when the incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m. . Although the Chief of Staff reportedly escaped unhurt with the assistance of his official driver, some civilians in the entourage were injured in the gun duel that lasted several minutes. Investigations revealed that the gunmen had laid an ambush in a nearby bush along the road before opening fire on the convoy as it approached .

Eyewitnesses in the area reported that the assailants opened fire on the officers as soon as they approached, sending panic across communities along the road. One eyewitness, a tricycle rider who plies the road and spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was returning from Ezira in Orumba South Local Government Area when he suddenly heard gunshots and immediately turned back to seek safety. He stated, “The incident happened last night. I was returning from a journey when I suddenly heard gunshots. I abandoned my tricycle and turned back for safety. After the shooting subsided, I resumed my journey and got to the point where the shooting occurred, only to discover that two police officers had been gunned down and were lying lifeless on the road.” A video circulating online shows the two policemen lying beside their patrol van in a pool of blood, while a voice in the video calls for the attention of the relevant authorities .

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When contacted on Monday about the development, CP Ikioye Orutugu confirmed the incident and stated that the command had already commenced investigations and was taking necessary action. He said, “A team of police officers was returning from an assignment when they were ambushed by armed men who opened fire on them. In the process, we lost two officers. We have been working on the matter since Sunday night and intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators.” During the emergency security meeting, CP Orutugu issued a 48-hour ultimatum to all formations and operational units of the command, including the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) , the Anti-Robbery Squad, the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) , and the Anti-Violent Crime Department, to apprehend those responsible for the attack. Addressing officers, the Commissioner declared, “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. 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, adding, “This kind of killing cannot happen under my watch. We must bring the perpetrators to justice and put an end to their activities.”

CP Orutugu also expressed concern over new tactics allegedly being adopted by criminal groups operating in parts of the state. According to intelligence reports, some attackers now disguise themselves in military and police uniforms to avoid suspicion and gain access to their targets. “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. He advised motorists to avoid approaching unauthorised checkpoints that are not manned by identifiable police personnel and official police vehicles, urging them to turn back and alert the nearest police formation if they encounter suspicious checkpoints. The police commissioner further advised motorists and commuters to exercise caution while travelling along the Amansea–Ufuma Road, describing it as a lonely stretch that has recently become a haven for criminal activities. “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. However, we reassure residents that the command remains committed, prepared, and battle-ready to guarantee the safety of lives and property across Anambra State,” he added. The Anambra Police Command has since commenced intelligence-led operations in the area, with CP Orutugu expressing confidence that significant breakthroughs would be achieved within the next 48 hours. The police boss also promised to visit the scene of the incident to assess the situation and strategise with other security agencies on measures to prevent similar attacks in the state.