Incident Summary:

10/21/2020: Assailants attacked the Police Area Command building in Oyigbo, Rivers, Nigeria. This was one of five related attacks targeting police stations in the area on this date. At least three police officers were killed across four of the attacks. No group claimed responsibility for the incident; however, sources attributed the attack to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

GTD ID:
202010210017

When:
2020-10-21

Country:
Nigeria

Region:
Sub-Saharan Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Rivers

City:
Oyigbo

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Type of Attack (more) Facility/Infrastructure Attack
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Police
Name of Entity Nigeria Police Force (NPF)
Specific Description Police Area Command Headquarters
Nationality of Target Nigeria
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Minor (likely < $1 million)
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Firearms Unknown Gun Type
Incendiary Arson/Fire
Melee Knife or Other Sharp Object
Weapon Details
Firearms, fire, and machetes were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information Casualty numbers represent a division of the total number of those killed across incidents 202010210017, 202010210018, 202010210024, and 202010210025. Casualty numbers conflict across sources. Following GTD protocol, the majority reliable estimates are reported here.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 1 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 1
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Police accuse IPOB members of killing three officers in Rivers," Premium Times, October 26, 2020.
"Rivers: Police arrest 21 IPOB members over death of 3 officers, vandalism," Sun News Online.com, October 26, 2020.
"Police stations set ablaze in Rivers, Imo," TheCable, October 21, 2020.