Suspected gunmen on Thursday went on a rampage, killing no fewer than nine persons in Awka, Anambra State capital.
The gunmen, who operated in a white Mercedes Benz SUV, were said to have killed two people at Witness Garden Hotel Street before allegedly killing 7 Hausa bikemen for trying to obstruct their movement at the Ifite-UNIZIK gate.
A trending video of the incident had shown the gunmen butchering one of the killed persons before bundling one inside their vehicle.
One of the gunmen was also seen signaling students and passersby to go about their businesses, shouting, “We did not come for you.”
Although an eyewitness described it as a cult war, the mode of operation the gunmen adopted, according to a source, depicts that of agitators.
When contacted, the Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident.
He said the responding team had taken over the scene of the indiscriminate shooting, which happened at about 9:15 am.
Ikenga said: “Preliminary information shows that the armed men unprovoked started shooting sporadically and some bullets fatally hit four persons in the area and were rushed to the hospital for aid by the police operatives.
“Also, some empty shells of bullets have been recovered at the scene.
“Meanwhile, operations are ongoing in the area and further details shall be communicated,” Ikenga said.
The incident is coming less than five days after 16 persons were killed at Nibo in Awka South Local Government Area of the state, in what police had tagged a cult war.
