To prevent future attacks on police stations and the killing of some of their colleagues, policemen serving in Imo State have called for the fencing of police stations across the state.
The policemen, who spoke anonymously to our correspondent because they are not authorised to speak, raised concerns over the porous nature of most police stations and barracks.
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In Umuelemai, the headquarters of Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the state, one of the officers, said the hoodlums who invaded the station and barracks, gained easy access because only the front of the building was fenced, adding that all the other adjoining areas were unfenced ending in a thick bush.
He said they were taken unawares because they were just getting ready to prepare the taking and handing over notes with the night shift when the gunmen struck.
“It was like a war because the gunmen were firing from every side of the station. They did not come in from the front because it was the only area fenced with a gate. They came through the adjoining unfenced areas, firing sporadically.
“Our appeal is that our authorities should provide fences to all the police stations as is done in the armed forces’ barracks. Had the station been fenced, we would have been able to arrest some of them, even if they climbed the fence.
“Unfortunately we cannot come out to talk because we are not authorised to, but please tell them that this is our plight. We are no longer safe. We can’t protect ourselves because we are vulnerable,” he added.
