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The Anambra State Police Command said it had begun a manhunt for the yet-to-be-identified assailants who killed five persons when they attacked two communities in the early hours of Monday.
Our correspondent gathered that the armed hoodlums, operating in unregistered Lexus 330 SUV and Honda FJ Cruiser SUV, launched the attacks at Ekeagu community in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area and Ukpo junction in Dunukofia LGA of the state.
During the attacks, no fewer than five persons, including three members of the vigilantes and two others were said to have been killed by the heavily armed assailants, while several others were injured.
The Anambra State police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, had launched a manhunt for the assailants and vowed to catch the perpetrators.
Ikenga said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, stated that the command should fish out the criminals who murdered four vigilante operatives and left two others seriously injured in the state.
“The armed men today, November 18, 2024, unprovoked by 8:45 am operating in an unregistered Lexus 330 SUV and Honda FJ Cruiser SUV at Ekeagu Abatete, murdered three members of the vigilantes and injured another unsuspecting member of the public.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the gunmen stormed the Abatete community, targeting security officers attached to the town’s President-General.
Some sources in the community told our correspondent in confidence that three security men were shot and killed instantly during an exchange of gunfire, adding the PG of the community, whose identity has yet to be ascertained, was critically injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.
One of the sources said, “We are praying for his (PG) recovery. The armed hoodlums invaded the community in the early hours of today and started shooting indiscriminately. This senseless violence left our community shaken.”
Some residents who also spoke on the development said they were still in shock, with many calling for increased security presence.
In another separate incident, some gunmen attacked the Ukpo Community at the Ukpo Roundabout, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state, killing one vigilante operative and a motorcycle rider.
An eyewitness who refused to disclose his identity for fear of reprisal said, “It was chaos. The attackers came out of nowhere, shooting indiscriminately and shouting and claiming to be freedom fighters.
“We are still trying to process what happened. It was an unprovoked attack on security operatives.”
It was gathered that both incidents were said to have occurred within an hour interval, with the first attack happening at 8 am in Abatete and the second at 8:45 am in Ukpo.
The Anambra State Police spokesman, Ikenga, also said in the statement on Monday that at Ukpo junction, Dunkunofia LGA while escaping a hot chase by the Police Responding Team, the assailants shot and killed another member of the vigilante, injured another and set two vehicles ablaze.
“Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and the injured are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
“The CP condoles with the family, friends and community of the deceased and states that the police shall leave no stone unturned until those behind the barbaric act are arrested and justice served.
“Further development shall be communicated, please,” he concluded.
