The saying that field operations in the Nigeria Police Force ends with the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police is no longer correct in Anambra state.

Echeng Echeng, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State on Wednesday midnight, around 2:00 a.m personally led back up team of security operatives to rescue the complete fall of Ihiala Divisional and Area Command Headquarters to Unknown Gunmen.

Security sources said although the commissioner of Police arrived the Ihiala Police Headquarters around 3 a.m after the Unknown Gunmen numbering about 60 had left the premises, but, the soldiers in the CP team engaged a 18-seater bus on top speed along Onitsha-Owerri road in gun battle.

According to the security sources, the bus conveying male passengers suspected to be members of the unknown gunmen group that attacked the police stations, were returning when they ran into the CP back up team advancing from Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The sources added that the bus driver maneuvered the vehicle and escaped but some of the occupants may have been killed.

The Unknown Gunmen attacked the stations with long range rocket launchers and dynamites, firing from the front and behind the police headquarters.

Sources said one of the group of Unknown Gunmen passed through Azia road, mounted long range rocket launchers in the abandoned Court building behind the Police Headquarters, shot directly into the Force premises, destabilizing the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force on duty.

Another group of unknown gunmen gathered at Onitsha-Owerri road, advanced through the entrance gate of the police stations with dynamites.

Passers-by said they started sensing danger when group of people with vehicles of different shapes and sizes parked along the Onitsha-Owerri road and started controlling traffic.

Passers-by said the residents around the Police Headquarters quickly ran into the bush, while the Unknown Gunmen were shouting on motorists to pass through the portion of the road faster.

A check on the Police Headquarters indicated that the building housing the Divisional Police Headquarters was completely burnt down with inmates in custody set free.

The newly built or reconstructed Area Command Headquarters was also completely burnt down.

A security officer in the Area Command building identified as Linus sustained gunshot injury on his ankle leg and was rescued to the Hospital by the Commissioner of Police, according to the security sources.

Vehicles parked at the police headquarters were burnt except the two Armoured Personnel Carriers, APC said to be faulty.

The security sources said the Unknown Gunmen began the attack with the first shot of the rocket at exactly 1:00 a.m.

Adding, the Wednesday early morning attack is the first on the Police Headquarters, after series of failed attempts since Unknown Gunmen began operation in 2021.