May 25, 2021; Attack on Orji Divisional Police Headquarters, Owerri, Imo State
44. On May 25, 2021, gunmen set ablaze Orji Divisional Police Headquarters situated along Owerri-Okigwe Road, Owerri, Imo State. Eye witnesses’ account stated that security operatives made up of soldiers, policemen and men of the Air Force engaged the hoodlums in gun battle. They said the gunmen numbering over 10 attacked the police station after blocking the expressway with their vehicles. The police spokesperson in the state, Bala Elkana, who confirmed the incident said, the state command had arrested five suspects in connection with the attack.
May 25, 2021; Attack on Iwollo Police Station, Ezeagu LGA, Enugu State
45. The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force confirmed the killing of four cops and burning of its Divisional Police Headquarters in Iwollo, Ezeagu Local Government Area of the state. The gunmen were said to have also burnt police vehicles and armoury, and also made away with weapons and released criminal suspects in the police cell. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said a manhunt had been launched to track down the hoodlums.
May 28, 2021; Attack on Umutu Police Station, Ukwuani, Delta State
46. Some gunmen on May 28, 2021, killed three police officers during an attack on a police station in Delta State. The attack occurred in Umutu police station in the early hours of Friday. A police statement, which confirmed the incident, said two of the gunmen were shot dead by the police during the attack. “In the early hours of today 28th may 2021 at about 0130 hours, armed men in their numbers stormed Umutu police station, they shot sporadically at the station, but due to proactive measure already put in place by the Delta state commissioner of police, they were faced with stiff resistance by the men on duty, as the policemen on duty gave them a tough fight,” the police spokesperson, Edafe Bright said in the statement. “The armed men had to retreat when they saw that the policemen on duty were not relenting, two of the armed bandits were gunned down while others were injured.
May 29, 2021; Attack on Immigration Facility, Ubakala, Enugu-PH Highway, Abia State
47. Gunmen on May 29, 2021, attacked the Nigeria Immigration Service building located along Ubakala axis of Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Abia state. The attack was carried out a few hours after the state police criminal investigation department in Umuahia was razed by gunmen. Geoffrey Ogbonna, spokesman of the state police command confirmed the attack but could not give detail. It was gathered that the gunmen invaded the area and started shooting sporadically.
May 30, 2021; Attack on the Divisional Headquarters of Police, Njaba Local Government Area, Imo State
48. Gunmen on May, 30, 2021, razed the Atta Divisional Police Headquarters in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the attackers shot sporadically for more than one hour before setting the station ablaze. They also razed the Magistrate’s and High Courts in the area and later vandalised the community health centre. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Bala Elkana, a superintendent of police, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Owerri.
May 30, 2021; Attack on Magistrate and Federal High Court, Njaba LGA, Imo State
49. Unknown Gunmen on May 30, 2021, attacked a Magistrate and Federal High Court in Njaba Local Government Area, Imo State, burning it aground. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the attackers shot sporadically for more than one hour before setting the court ablaze and vandalizing a community health centre. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Bala Elkana, a superintendent of police, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Owerri.
May 31, 2021; Attack on Omuma Police Division, Oru East LGA, Imo State
50. On May 31, 2021, the Imo State Police Command, repelled attacks on the Omuma Police Divisional Headquarters in Oru East Local Area, in Imo State, by unknown gunmen. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, the attackers who had earlier attacked the Umundugba Divisional Police Headquarters, made attempts to burn down the station, but were repelled by the officers on duty. He said a “similar attempt was made by some hoodlums to attack Omuma Police Division but was equally repelled by the gallant policemen on duty. No life was lost in the two attacks and there were no casually on the part of the police. The two police stations were not burnt,”
May 31, 2021 – Attack on Umundugba Police Divisional Headquarters, Isu LGA, Imo State
51. Operatives of the Imo State Police Command, yesterday, repelled attacks on two police stations in the state. The stations are Omuma Police Division, Oru East Local Council and Police Division, Umundugba in Isu Local Council. According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, the attackers who arrived at the Umundugba station at about 3.30 p.m. in Sienna buses, Avalon and eight motorcycles, engaged the police officers on duty in gun battle. The attackers, he said, also used several petrol bombs, but were repelled by the police officers who were able neutralize the attackers. He said “on May 31, 2021 at about 3.30 p.m., some hoodlums in their numbers launched an attack on Police Division in Umundugba, Isu Local Council but were repelled by the policemen on duty. “They stormed the station in three Sienna buses, one Avalon saloon car and about eight motorcycles. The hoodlums were engaged in a gun battle. During the duel, the hoodlums threw a couple of petrol bomb at the station, which fell at the exhibit room. The attackers were eventually suppressed and they made a retreat, having suffered huge defeat and a number of casualties on their side. The police, with the help of some members of the community, were able to put out the fire.
July 26, 2021: DPO, 6 Gunmen Killed in Gov Uzodimma’s Home Town
52. The Police Command in Imo has confirmed the death of CSP Fatmann Dooiyor, a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in an attack at Omuma town in Oru East Local Government Area of the state. The command also said six bandits died in the attack, while 11 were arrested when they engaged the police in a gun battle.
August 1, 2021: Hoodlums attack Imo police station, behead motorist
53. Over ten vehicles have been set ablaze and two suspected Police Officers killed when unknown gunmen attacked Njaba Divisional Police station at about 02:40 pm on Saturday. Also, the buildings belonging to the Njaba Police station were completely razed down. Reacting, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike Abatam, said not only that two of the suspected hoodlums had been killed but that the Operation Restore Peace team of the police had cordoned off the Njaba area.
October 13, 2021: Cultists attack police officers, cart away rifle in Bayelsa
54. Suspected cultists have attacked operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command along the Kolo-Ogbia road in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state. The operatives were said to be conducting stop and search operations when they were attacked on Monday night. The state’s police spokesperson, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident and attributed it to suspected cultists
November 23, 2021: Gunmen kill officer in Imo, set police facility ablaze
55. An officer has been shot dead and a police facility set ablaze by gunmen in Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east, according to a report by Daily Trust newspaper. The paper reported that the police spokesperson in the state, Michael Abattam, who confirmed the attack and the killing of the officer, said the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday.
November 28, 2021: Gunmen kill two police officers in Anambra, burn their bodies
56. Two police officers were killed following an attack by gunmen in Anambra State. In a statement on Sunday, Ikenga Tochukwu, Anambra command spokesperson, said the slain officers were travelling with their colleagues when they were ambushed by the gunmen. He said the bodies of the slain officers were burnt by the gunmen, while one officer is still missing.
December 13, 2021: Gunmen Attack Police Headquarters in Abia, Kill Policeman
57. Some gunmen on Monday morning attacked the headquarters of Abia State police in Umuahia, the capital of Abia State. SaharaReporters gathered that during the attack, one person suspected to be a police inspector was killed
January 18, 2022: Gunmen kill police officer in Aba
58. A police inspector was on Tuesday shot dead in Aba, Abia State, South-east Nigeria, by gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Two of the gunmen were killed during a shootout with the police, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The police spokesperson in Abia State, Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the killing, said the incident happened at about 12:30p.m
February 20, 2022: Nigerian police officers killed in two separate attacks in Isu, Imo and Anambra State
59. Four policemen have been killed in two separate attacks by suspected separatists in southeast Nigeria in the latest violence in the volatile region. The state’s police spokesperson Michael Abatam confirmed the incident.
March 20, 2022: Unknown gunmen attack two police stations in Oru, South-East Nigeria
60. Gunmen using dynamite have attacked a police station in southeastern Nigeria, a day after two police officers were killed in another attack in the area, police said. “The gunmen came with dynamite in the early hours of today and bombed part of the station at Oru but the assault was repelled,” state police spokesman Michael Abattam told AFP.
April 13, 2022: Gunmen attack police station in Anambra, kill four cops
61. Gunmen have attacked the police station in Atani, the headquarters of Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, killing four policemen, including a female cop on duty. The State Police Public Relations Officer who confirmed the attack said, “The hoodlums came around 1am, and unlucky for us, four police operatives paid the supreme price.
April 15, 2022: Another Police Station Attacked in Anambra, One Gunman Killed
62. THISDAY learnt that the gang of gunmen had attacked Nteje police station, but luck ran out on them when operatives of the command got a tip off and launched a counter attack on them.
July 3, 2022: Gunmen Set Fire to INEC Office in Enugu
63. The commission’s head of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye said 748 ballot boxes and 240 voting cubicles were destroyed in the inferno.“The attack happened at about 11:48 pm on Sunday, July 3. The arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises, and set the building ablaze
July 13, 2022: INEC Suspends Registration of Voters in Igboeze, Following Attack by Gunmen
64. Unknown gunmen attacked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) involved in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) at Community Primary School, Umuopu, in Umuozzi Ward 19 of the Igboeze North Local Government Area (LGA) in Enugu State. According to the Commission’s Administrative Secretary, Jude Okwuonu, the gunmen fired sporadically into the air to disperse registrants and registration officials. In the ensuing stampede, one staff of the Commission sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Two voter registration machines and personal items of staff such as mobile phones were lost.
July 17, 2022: Two police officers, several hoodlums killed in Anambra gunfight
65. Two police officers and some hoodlums were killed yesterday during a gun battle between the police and gunmen at Achala in Awka North local government area of Anambra State. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga, said a six- man police team and a civilian car tracker who were on a recovery operation of a Toyota Sienna Space Wagon vehicle earlier snatched at gun point at Oye-Agu Abagana in Njikoka local government area were ambushed.
August 5, 2022: Gunmen attack police station, kill four cops in Imo
66. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agwa Police Division came under serious attack by gunmen and killed four police officers on Friday evening. The CP confirmed this in a press statement issued by the command’s spokesperson CSP Michael Abattam on Saturday.
September 21, 2022: 3 policemen allegedly wounded as gunmen attack state CID in Abia
67. About three policemen were wounded when an unspecified number of gunmen, Wednesday night, invaded the Abia State Criminal Investigation Department, CID, headquarters of the Nigeria Police, located at Uzuakoli Road.October 9, 2022: Gunmen attack police station in Orji River LGA, kill cop, others in Enugu
68. Gunmen have attacked Inyi police station in the Oji River council area of Enugu State, killing at least a policeman and burning the police station. The gunmen that attacked Inyi police station were said to be chanting, “no election, Police in Biafra land,” while carrying out their evil act.
October 10, 2022: Gunmen in Military Uniform Kill Two Police Officers in Onuimo, Imo State
69. The deceased cops, attached to the Umuna Divisional Police Headquarters in the Onuimo council area of the state were reportedly killed in front of the station, where they mounted the stop-and-search operation.
November 8, 202: Gunmen Attack Police Checkpoint In Anambra, Officers Feared Killed, Injured
70. Gunmen attacked a police checkpoint along Ihiala-Uli road in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday morning. Casualty number not confirmed.
November 27, 2022: INEC office set ablaze in Izzi LGA, Ebonyi
71. A local office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was set ablaze on Sunday in Ebonyi State, south-east Nigeria, by some unidentified persons. A yet-to-be-determined quantity of Permanent Voters’ Cards was destroyed in the attack, INEC said. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday night, said the incident occurred at about 10 a.m. at Izzi Local Government Area office in Iboko.
November 19, 2022: Gunmen kill three police officers in Agbani, Enugu State
72. Three police officers were on Saturday killed when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Agbani, a community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria’s South-east.
December 3, 2022:Again, hoodlums attack INEC office in Imo
73. The Independent National Electoral Commission office in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State was, on Thursday, vandalised and partially set ablaze by some unknown people. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Friday.
December 5, 2022: Another INEC office attacked seventh in four months
74. Armed persons on Sunday attacked the office of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State, making it the seventh attack on the commission’s facilities within the last four months. The Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye, confirmed the latest attack late Sunday in a statement made available to journalists.
December 12, 2022: Three gunmen, one police officer killed in Imo INEC office attack
75. The Police Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, Mr. Michael Abattam while confirming the attack said one police officer was killed in the attack that targeted the State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
December 20, 2022: Another INEC facility attacked in Imo, fourth in three weeks
76. Gunmen have attacked an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria’s south-east. The attack is the fourth on INEC offices in less than three weeks in the state. The INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the attackers vandalised some parts of the commission’s office.
December 22, 2022:Another INEC Office Attacked in Imo
77. Another office of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) office in Imo State has been attacked. This was disclosed in statement by the INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye. The attack, which was carried out on Tuesday left eight windows smashed and burglary proofs removed.
December 27, 2022: Gunmen burn down police station in Ihiala, Anambra
78. Eye witnesses and the state Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga said the hoodlums threw explosives into the station.
January 12, 2023: INEC Office in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State
79. The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the local government was also bombed in the attack which occurred about 48 hours after a police station in the area was also attacked
January 15, 2023: Again, Gunmen Attack INEC Office in Enugu, Kill one Police Officer…
80. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that its office in Enugu South Local Government Area has been attacked by gunmen a few weeks to the general election. INEC’s National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, stated this in a statement on Monday.
January 28, 2023: Gunmen attack Nigerian police checkpoint, kill three officers
81. At least three police officers were shot dead and another injured on Saturday night when gunmen attacked the security operatives at a checkpoint along the Enugu/Abakaliki expressway. The police spokesperson in Ebonyi, Chris Anyanwu, who confirmed the incident, said the hoodlums operated in two Sienna vehicles
February 1, 2023: 2023 Election: Deadly Gang Attack INEC Office, Police Station in Idemili South, Anambra
82. A gang of daredevil gunmen on Wednesday, February 1, attacked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ojoto, Idemili South local government area of Anambra. Even more, the gunmen were said to have launched another attack on the police station in Nnobi and a residential building in Ojoto LGA. The police command also said a police station was attacked by the gunmen in Ojoto. The command Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the attack to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Onitsha, added that two casualties were recorded.
Unwanted distraction for the Electoral Process and need for structural response
The conflict in the region is an unwanted distraction to the electoral process and the security agencies which are battle fatigued as a result of the prolonged fight against insurgents in the northern part of the country. The bombings which are a clear manifestation of layers of disenchantments by young people who feel excluded from political representation and equitable wealth distribution, have further disrupted the security architecture of the country. The development however has a far reaching implication on the overall success of the electoral process. For instance some of the bombings spilled into the south-south region which also has many states with high election security risk. The escalation could further impede the efforts of the electoral umpire which might eventually be forced to either postpone or cancel the elections. The consequences of such cancellation are better imagined on the corporate existence of the country. It is therefore important to highlight that there is an urgent need for structural responses which should include multi-layer dialogues that involves all stakeholders.
