Two senior police officers have been killed and three police inspectors injured after unidentified gunmen attacked the Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters in Aba, Abia State, using explosives that triggered a fire and destroyed parts of the facility. The police confirmed that the attackers also damaged a patrol vehicle, while security operations have been intensified to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The attack occurred at approximately 2:26 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the police division in the Uratta-Eziukwu area of Aba. According to a statement issued by the Abia State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Maureen Chioma Chinaka, the assailants used explosives during the assault, causing a fire that damaged part of the station and its divisional patrol van.
Chinaka confirmed that two senior officers lost their lives during the attack, while three inspectors sustained injuries and were receiving medical treatment. The police did not immediately disclose the identities of the deceased officers or provide detailed information about the medical conditions of those injured.
The command also clarified that no firearms or ammunition were taken from the police facility during the attack. This clarification followed concerns about whether the gunmen had targeted the station's armoury, although the police did not establish the attackers' motive or confirm that the theft of weapons was their objective.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, personally led an operational team comprising tactical units of the command to the affected area. The officers searched the surrounding environment and restored calm, while additional security operations and monitoring were introduced to track down the attackers.
Afolabi condemned the killings and assured residents that the police would deploy available operational and intelligence resources to identify those responsible. He also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased officers and members of the police command, describing the loss as a serious incident requiring a thorough investigation.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti subsequently visited the damaged police station to assess the destruction and receive a briefing from the police commissioner. The governor also visited injured victims receiving treatment at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba, where he expressed sympathy and pledged support for their medical care.
Speaking during the inspection, Afolabi confirmed that the attack had claimed two lives and that investigations were underway. He disclosed that no arrests had been made at the time of his remarks but maintained that security personnel were working to locate those involved.
The police commissioner's account also indicated that the attack damaged property beyond the divisional patrol van. Reports from the scene identified a Toyota vehicle, a power generator and other items within the police facility among the property affected by the assault.
The use of explosives during the attack has raised concerns about the circumstances in which armed men were able to target a police facility. However, authorities have not disclosed the number of attackers, their identities or the route through which they approached and escaped from the station.
No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the incident, and the police have not attributed the attack to any particular organisation. Establishing responsibility will therefore depend on the outcome of the investigation and any evidence recovered by security personnel.
The command has urged residents to remain calm and vigilant while cooperating with investigators. It encouraged anyone with credible information about the attackers to report to the nearest police station or use the command's established communication channels.
The incident has renewed attention on the security of police facilities and the risks faced by officers performing their duties. While the immediate response restored calm to the affected area, the investigation remains ongoing, with authorities yet to announce any arrests.
For the families of the two deceased officers and their injured colleagues, the attack has resulted in loss of life and serious injuries. The police command has pledged to pursue those responsible and bring them before the law.
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