Police operatives attached to Abagana Police Station in Anambra State have foiled an attack by gunmen on the station, preventing the assailants from gaining entrance to the Police facility.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the incident occurred during late hours on Friday night.
The gunmen had earlier attacked Anambra State Vigilante Operatives on patrol, murdering two of them. On approaching Abagana Police Station, the attackers began shooting sporadically to gain entrance to the Police Station, the statement said.
It said the police operatives engaged the armed men in a gun duel, forcing them to flee the scene.
But as they fled, the gunmen threw a petrol bomb into the station, igniting a fire which affected the roof of an old building in the facility.
The statement said fire service operatives responded swiftly and put out the the blaze.
Meanwhile, patrols have been intensified in the affected area and across Anambra State as a whole.
Writing by Uche Ndeke; Editing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade, Abdullahi Lamino and Tony Okerafor