About eight persons have been reportedly gunned down in Anambra state following attacks from unknown gunmen and suspected cultists.
Two police officers were allegedly killed by unknown gunmen during attacks at the Zone 13 Ukpo on Monday, while the other six died over suspected cult attacks on Monday morning and Sunday evening.
“One person was shot dead at motor park and another location at Unizik Junction, another one at a beer-parlour in High tension (near Aroma junction), and two at Ifite, Awka) on Sunday. One young man was also gunned down at Amansea on Monday. At each of the operation, the killers drove in with tricycles,” a source stated.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, is yet to issue a statement on the suspected cult occasioned deaths.
But the Zone 13 Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), DSP Nkiruka Nwode, in a statement, dismissed allegations of killing two police officers, even as she maintained that the unknown gunmen were repelled by police personnel on duty.
“Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to Zone-13 Headquarters Ukpo, Anambra State have successfully repelled an attack on the Zonal Headquarters by criminal elements in the early hours of today, 19th April, 2021. The attackers, who came in their numbers shooting sporadically in order to gain access to the facility, were repelled by Police personnel on duty who showed profound gallantry in the face of the seemingly overwhelming attack.
“Following the inability of the attackers to access the facility, they cowardly threw petrol bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on vehicles within the periphery of the Headquarters. One of the criminal elements was neutralized during the exchange of gunfire between the Police and the attackers while many of the gang members escaped with gunshots injuries.
“One L7A2 General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), Ninety-two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, one locally-made smoke pistol and an axe were recovered by the Police. Regrettably, two police operatives sustained gunshot injuries and are presently receiving treatment. The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, CP Kuryas Monday, fsi, who is also standing in for the Zonal Assistant Inspector General of Police, has commended the Police operatives for putting up a strong resistance against the attackers.
” The CP, supported by other senior officers from Zone-13 Headquarters and the State Command, is personally leading a special operation aimed at tracing, identifying and arresting the perpetrators to bring them to book. He also called on proprietors of private and public (including unorthodox) medical facilities in and around Anambra state to admit, but report anyone found seeking medical attention for bullet wounds and related injuries to the nearest police station.
“CP has called on citizens in the State not to panic but to go about their lawful duties. While assuring of the Command’s resolve to re-dominate, reclaim and secure all public spaces as directed by the Inspector General of Police, the CP enjoins members of the public to continue to support the Police with vital and timely information on the activities of criminals and other subversive elements within their respective communities,” she stated.
