Daredevil gunmen numbering about 20 on Wednesday, invaded the town of Ekwulobia in Aguata Council Area of Anambra state, where they shot indiscriminately, resulting in the death of about four persons and injury to many others.
The heavily armed gun men eye witnesses said, had come at about 8.00 am and stationed on the newly built bridge at the center of the town from where they launched attacks on the joint security patrol team of the police and the army as well as members of the state home land security team in the area otherwise known as ”Udo Gachi.”
It was gathered that they burnt one of the security vehicles used by the joint security guard.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media showed scenes of chaos: a tricycle driver slumped lifeless in his vehicle, another man lying in a pool of blood inside a roadside shop, and frightened residents scampering to safety as gunfire echoed in the background.
In one chilling clip, a gunman armed with an assault rifle was seen boldly pacing under the newly constructed flyover, a project previously hailed as a sign of progress, now marred by violence.
“There was confusion everywhere and most of them, workers going to work and traders coming from their homes to open their shops, ran helter-skelter in search of safety.
“About four deaths were already recorded and many others injured,” a source told our correspondent on phone.
However, when contacted, the State Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, a Superintendent of police said only two civilian casualties were recorded.
He acknowledged that the hoodlums had burnt a security vehicle but that they had been contained.
He said that the security agents demobilized one of the hoodlums and recovered two rifles, one pump-action gun, and one AK-47, including four vehicles with which the hoodlums came.
“A brown Toyota Sienna vehicle, said to belong to the Anambra State Vigilante Group, was also set ablaze by the gunmen.
“The recovered vehicles included a red Toyota Camry with registration number ENU 58 SC, a custom-colour Mercedes Benz GLK without a registration number, a golden Lexus 330 with registration number ENU 815 AP, and an ash-colour Toyota Highlander with registration number GDD 517 RW,” Ikenga revealed.
He added that the Oko Divisional Police Headquarters was also attacked by the gunmen but was successfully defended by officers on duty.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, additional security measures have been put in place at the instance of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu.
