The Ikiriki Police Station in Enugu South Local Government Area, Enugu State, has remained abandoned since late 2021 following a series of deadly attacks by suspected gunmen, SaharaReporters has learned. Personnel originally stationed at Ikiriki were forced to vacate the facility and merge operations with the Uwani Police Division after repeated assaults between 2019 and 2021.

Security sources revealed that the attacks, which resulted in officer fatalities and looting of weapons from the station’s armoury, created an atmosphere of fear that made continued occupation impossible.

A recent visit to the station showed clear signs of long-term neglect. Thick weeds overran the compound, sections of the perimeter fence had collapsed, and the main gate was partially damaged, underscoring the extent to which the station has been left unattended.

Residents expressed concern over the continued absence of police presence, saying it has weakened security in the area. Some recalled that Ikiriki had once been a key security outpost before the wave of violent attacks forced officers to withdraw.

In one of the major assaults in 2019, gunmen reportedly killed at least one officer and injured several others, while subsequent attacks saw weapons taken from the station’s armoury, raising fears of increased criminal activity in the community.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to calls or messages seeking clarification on why the station remains unoccupied despite assurances of improved security in Enugu metropolis.