Gunmen Ambush Convoy of Soludo’s Chief of Staff Ben Nwankwo; Two Police Officers Killed as Furious CP Issues Grim 48-Hour Ultimatum to Hunt Down Attackers

The security landscape of Anambra State has been thrown into intense tension following a deadly, high-stakes ambush on the official convoy of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Ben Nwankwo. The violent assault, which left two police officers dead on the asphalt, has triggered a massive institutional backlash, with the state command activating an aggressive emergency dragnet to permanently neutralize the perpetrators.

The horrific incident occurred late Sunday night, May 31, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m. along the lonely stretch of the Amansea–Ndiukwuenu–Ufuma Road. Dr. Nwankwo was transiting back to Awka after representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo at a public function when heavily armed hoodlums emerged from the bush trenches, opening a sudden and unprovoked fire line on the motorcade and other passing commuters.

Security personnel attached to the governor’s top aide instantly fired back, attempting to execute a defensive rescue manual to steer the vehicles out of the kill zone. While Dr. Nwankwo managed to escape the flying bullets unharmed by the whiskers, two brave officers were overwhelmed and killed in the fierce exchange of gunfire, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries. A viral eyewitness video captured by a local tricycle operator quickly surfaced on digital portals, showing the grim aftermath and the lifeless bodies of the fallen officers left on the road.

Reacting with absolute fury during an emergency security meeting at the Command Headquarters on Monday, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, stated that an attack on law enforcement assets represents a direct strike against the sovereignty of the state. He immediately dropped a heavy 48-hour ultimatum on all divisional and tactical units, declaring that the era of treating violent gangs with kid gloves is permanently over.

“I want you to fish out the attackers and the killers of our officers; I demand immediate action to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” a visibly angry CP Orutugu ordered his commanders. “I want results. This kind of killing cannot happen under my watch. We are declaring ‘Operation Fish Them Out’ active across all local corridors starting immediately. Criminals cannot continue to take advantage of the night to unleash violence.”

Beyond the immediate manhunt, the police chief opened up a critical advisory portal for residents and motorists traversing the state’s transit networks. He explicitly warned that the Amansea–Ufuma route has recently become an isolated den for active syndicates. More concerningly, Orutugu unmasked a new criminal tactic in the trenches, revealing that investigators have flagged multiple rogue operatives executing robbery operations while completely disguised in fake or stolen police and military uniforms.

As specialized tactical teams flood the state’s forest borders and commercial hubs with a heavy security shield, the command has pleaded with the grassroots to provide real-time data and intelligence. With the 48-hour clock ticking rapidly, the state government has reaffirmed that its operational lines are fully synchronized, promising that the sacrifice of the slain officers will be answered with the total annihilation of the gang’s network.