Authorities in Enugu State, southern Nigeria, have arrested thirteen male suspects following an armed assault on police personnel in Akpakume, a community in Udi Local Government Area.
Police spokesman, Superintendent Daniel Ndukwe, said on Wednesday that a homemade single-barrel gun was recovered after the confrontation, which occurred on 3 November.
According to Ndukwe, police officers had entered the area to arrest individuals linked to an investigation involving illegal arms possession, conspiracy, and cultism. “The suspects, alongside their accomplices, launched an unexpected gun attack on the officers, injuring some of them,” he said.
He noted that the officers returned fire, dispersing the attackers and forcing several of them to escape with gunshot injuries. The shootout also caused damage to a police vehicle and other property in the area.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, visited the scene the following day, where he led senior officers on an assessment tour. The police said the assailants had vandalised homes, shops, and farms belonging to residents, with evidence suggesting the incident was tied to an existing intra-communal dispute.
Commissioner Giwa called for calm and assured residents of ongoing efforts to capture those responsible. “The police will not relent until every individual involved in the attack and related crimes is brought to justice,” he pledged.
