Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Enugu — A deadly ambush on a routine police patrol in Enugu metropolis has left two police inspectors dead and their patrol vehicle destroyed after unidentified gunmen attacked officers late on Saturday night, security sources and eyewitnesses report. The brazen assault has intensified concerns over rising violence against security forces in parts of southeastern Nigeria.
According to multiple verified reports, the incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on 27 December 2025 along Zik Avenue near Good Shepherd Specialist Hospital in the Uwani area of Enugu. A team of officers attached to the Distress Response Squad (DRS) of the Enugu State Police Command were on routine patrol when they were ambushed by about six armed men who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus SUV.
The attackers opened fire on the patrol Hilux vehicle, killing Inspectors Valentine Iheme and Anayo Ede at close range. After shooting the officers, the assailants set the police vehicle ablaze and made off with three AK-47 rifles, each loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition, according to security sources.
A senior security official quoted in reports said the officers were taken by surprise during their patrol and were unable to defend themselves effectively before the attackers opened sustained gunfire. The assailants fled the scene before reinforcements could arrive.
While authorities have not publicly confirmed responsibility, several security analysts and reports suggest the gunmen may have been members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which have been linked to a series of violent attacks on security personnel and installations across the South-East.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, tactical units of the Enugu State Police Command were reportedly deployed across the metropolis and adjoining areas to hunt down the suspects and recover the stolen weapons. Police spokespeople have condemned the ambush and pledged that a full investigation is underway, emphasising that those responsible will be brought to justice.
The killings have drawn condemnation from local residents and civic groups, many of whom lament that attacks on law enforcement personnel erode public confidence and further strain security in communities already grappling with crime and violence. Some local youth leaders urged increased cooperation between community members and security agencies, while others called for federal intervention to address broader insecurity in the region.
Security experts note that targeted ambushes on police patrols represent a significant escalation in tactics by outlawed groups, posing serious challenges for conventional policing and counter-insurgency strategies in urban and semi-urban areas. They argue that improving intelligence-led operations, community policing and inter-agency collaboration will be essential to preventing similar attacks in the future.
As the investigation continues, families of the fallen officers and the broader Enugu community mourn the loss of the inspectors, whose deaths underscore the dangers facing security operatives in the line of duty and the volatile security climate confronting many parts of Nigeria.
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