Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested thirteen male suspects and recovered a locally made single-barrel gun following an armed attack on police officers in Akpakume community, Udi Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 3, 2025, when police personnel stormed the community to apprehend individuals linked to allegations of conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and cult-related activities.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the police team came under heavy gunfire from suspected cultists who had ambushed them.
Several officers sustained injuries during the exchange, while a police operational vehicle and other nearby vehicles were damaged by gunfire.
Ndukwe said the operatives responded “with superior firepower,” forcing many of the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.
Thirteen suspects were arrested at the scene, while others escaped into nearby bushes.
In a follow-up visit to the community on Tuesday, November 4, the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, led senior officers to assess the damage caused by the hoodlums.
The team reportedly discovered that the attackers had also vandalized houses, shops, and farmlands, destroying livestock and crops belonging to residents.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the violence was linked to an ongoing intra-communal conflict in Akpakume, which has recently escalated despite peace efforts by local authorities.
CP Giwa condemned the attack and assured residents that the Command would leave no stone unturned in bringing all perpetrators to justice.
He urged law-abiding members of the community to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives.
“We will intensify our manhunt for the fleeing assailants and ensure that every one of them faces the full weight of the law,” the police commissioner stated.
