There was tension in the Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State after armed youths , suspected to be cult members , raided the Eku Police Station and freed some arrested members of their gang .
The assailants were reported to have also destroyed some property in the community as scores of residents were allegedly injured during the three -hour raid .
The hoodlums , said to have numbered over 100 , had stormed the area from different parts of the state to free their members who were allegedly arrested by the police at a checkpoint .
It was gathered that the suspects entered the police station around 9 .30 pm last Sunday after blocking all access roads to prevent movement in and outside the community before unleashing terror .
The incident was said to have caught police operatives attached to the station unaware , as many of them reportedly took to their heels to escape the wrath of the rampaging youths .
Sources said the gang members , who were dressed in black, belonged to different cult groups , including Eiye and Vikings, which had been terrorising residents since 2016.
The assailants, who were reportedly armed with guns , cutlasses, axes , broken bottles , and other weapons, also allegedly robbed residents of their phones , chains , cash and other valuables .
They were said to have freed 15 arrested cult members during the attack on the station .
A source told PUNCH Metro that the men vandalised several vehicles and prevented injured persons from being taken to the Baptist Government Hospital , Eku, for medical care .
He said , “Around 9 .30 pm , over 100 youths , whose ages ranged from 18 to 30 years , armed with cutlasses , axes and weapons believed to be guns , took to the streets of Eku . They robbed and attacked anybody in sight.
“ Many people lost their valuables to the criminal gang , while some sustained varying degrees of injury . The youths attacked the police station where they freed some of their members who were arrested by the police . It was a terrible situation.”
A community leader , who spoke on condition of anonymity , confirmed the incident when contacted by our correspondent , adding that the community leadership did not know the reason for the attack.
He appealed to the state Governor , Dr Ifeanyi Okowa , and the state Commissioner of Police , Muhammad Mustapha , to beef up security in the area to prevent the situation from snowballing into a major security threat to the state government .
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr . Andrew Aniamaka , confirmed the attack saying there was no suspect in the police custody when the hoodlums struck .
He disclosed that some police operatives had been arrested and were being interrogated .
He noted that the suspected cult members attacked a police post and not a police station .
He said , “The incident happened when some hoodlums literarily attacked the station . It is not a station per say ; it’s an outpost . At the time of the incident , there was no suspect in our cell .
“Some persons are being trailed as masterminds . We do not want to engage in mass arrest . But nothing was destroyed and no arm was carted away . There was nothing of value that you can say was destroyed .
“It is when they ( suspects ) are arrested that we can know the reason for such an attack. We are not aware of any property being damaged .
“I can only speak when investigation has been done and facts have revealed the reason for their action. No police officer was injured but some persons ( police officers ) are being questioned as to why they will allow hoodlums into a station .
“The onus is on them to defend the station at all times , but if they do not, they will be called to account,” Aniamaka added .
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