Dalena Reporters l December 29, 2025
Unknown gunmen on Saturday night carried out a deadly ambush on a police patrol team in Enugu metropolis, killing two police inspectors and setting their patrol vehicle ablaze in a brazen attack that has heightened security fears across the state. The attack occurred around 8:30 p.m. along Zik Avenue near Good Shepherd Specialist Hospital in the Uwani area of Enugu, sources told Dalena Reporters and confirmed by multiple local outlets.
The slain officers were identified as Inspectors Valentine Iheme and Anayo Ede, both attached to the Distress Response Squad (DRS) of the Enugu State Police Command. According to security sources, the patrol team was on routine duties when they were ambushed by about six armed men who arrived in an ash-coloured Lexus RX 350 SUV, opened fire and forced the officers into a fatal confrontation.
In the assault, the attackers also targeted the patrol vehicle’s fuel tank, causing it to explode and burn completely. Three AK-47 rifles loaded with live ammunition were seized by the assailants as they fled the scene, according to police sources.
Eyewitness accounts and security analysts suggest the operation appeared coordinated and well-planned, taking the patrol team by surprise while parked near a pharmacy on Zik Avenue. The motive behind the attack has not been officially confirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility, though some observers linked the violence to suspected separatist elements operating in the South-East.
In response, the Enugu State Police Command has activated tactical units and deployed officers across the metropolis and surrounding areas to track down the suspects, recover the stolen firearms and prevent further attacks. Authorities have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice as investigations continue.
The ambush underscores ongoing security challenges in parts of southeastern Nigeria, where police and military personnel have increasingly been targeted in violent attacks amid persistent unrest and criminal activity.