Awka — Palpable fear has gripped Anambra State as armed robbers yesterday morning sacked Amichi Police Station in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state.

The incident, which saw the robbers severely wounding two policemen, carting away AK47 riffles from the police station's armoury and releasing suspects in the station's custody, came barely 24 hours after four policemen were killed by armed robbers in the state.

Amichi is the home town of the former Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief Simon Okeke.

According to sources, the dare-devil robbers who struck at about 2.30am, opened fire on the police station, wounding two policemen on duty, while others ran away for safety. The police station and the vehicles parked at the station, were riddled with bullets.

The source said the assailants had a field day ransacking the deserted police station after they had released the suspects in the police cell and broke into the armoury.

"The heavy sound of gun shots woke the entire neighbourhood and the shooting lasted for about two hours before they drove away without resistance", the source said.

But another police source, who pleaded anonymity, told Daily Champion that the robbers had been targetting police stations to refill their supply of weapons, adding that the same gang was responsible for the killing of five policemen just 24 hours before this incident.

The source, however, assured that the police were on the trail of the robbers and will soon apprehend them. "They won't escape. The police have enough information that would lead to their arrest", the source assured.

Efforts to reach the Anambra State Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Emeka Chukwuemeka, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), and the Nnewi Area Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) John Nwele, for comments failed as their cell phones were ringing without response.

Following the incident, security has been beefed up in police stations around Onitsha and environs, apparently to ward off such attacks.

When Daily Champion reporter visited some police stations in the commercial city, there were heavy presence of security men, comprising the Army and Navy around the stations.