A policeman has been killed by hoodlums who attacked the Ohaukwu Police Station in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The hoodlums were said to have thrown petrol bombs in the station as the explosion burnt two vehicles parked on the premises of the station.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Ohaukwu LGA, Clement Odah, said a policeman died during the attack on the station around 11pm on Sunday but denied reports that 35 people were killed during the invasion.

Odah said, “I got news of the attack last night and I called the DPO, who confirmed the incident. I was told the hoodlums used locally-made dynamite to attack the place and from the report of the police, a police officer died during the attack.

“The policemen there, the MOPOL attached to my local government, the area command and the Ebubeagu jointly combined efforts and repelled the attackers. Unfortunately, one policeman lost his life.

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“I think the DCO’s office was damaged. That is the most affected part of the station. This incident won’t repeat itself and of course you will agree with me that this is the first time something like this is happening in my local government.

“The rumour that 35 people were killed during the attack remains a rumor and should be discarded. It was one policeman that was killed and the police also corroborated that.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Loveth Odah, said the gunmen attacked the station with petrol bombs, adding that a sergeant was killed in the process.

She said, “Around 11.50pm on Sunday, yet-to-be-identified gunmen came into the Ohaukwu Divisional Police Headquarters to attack the division and the men on duty. But they were quickly repelled.

“In the process, one police officer, a sergeant, paid the supreme price. They threw petrol bombs into the station; operational and exhibit vehicles parked inside the police station were burnt.”