No fewer than five persons have lost their lives in the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone after gunmen, enforcing the outlawed sit-at-home order, launched a series of deadly attacks on Monday morning.
The assaults, which occurred between 8am and 10am, targeted communities in Abatete, Abagana, and Ukpo.
According to sources, the casualties were mainly members of the Anambra Vigilante services. In Abatete town, three security personnel attached to the town’s President-General (PG) were shot and killed. The PG himself sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
In separate incidents, the gunmen attacked Abagana and Ukpo communities. At the Ukpo roundabout, in Dunukofia Local Government Area, one Vigilante Group member and a motorcycle rider lost their lives.
The attacks have sent terrified members of communities around Anambra Central into panic. A voice note circulating on social media warned people in Awka not to venture outside due to the proximity of the attacked communities to the state capital.
Residents expressed shock and grief over the senseless violence. “We are praying for the recovery of our PG. This senseless violence has left our community shaken,” said a member of the Abatete community. Another member of the Ukpo community described the scene on Facebook: “It was chaos. The attackers came out of nowhere, shooting indiscriminately. Shouting no Biafra, no freedom. We are still trying to process what happened.”
When contacted, the police spokesperson stated that details of the incident are still sketchy, but operatives are currently at the scene. “I will get back to you with facts as soon as I can,” the spokesperson assured.
