At least three person are feared dead in a mid-day attack on two towns in Anambra State by daredevil gunmen who operated in Ekwulobia community in Aguata and Oko community in Orumba North Local Government Area.
Reports showed that while two members of the public were killed during the attack in Ekwulobia, police killed one of the gunmen.
In Oko, the men were said to have been stoutly resisted by police operatives in a police station they attempted to set a blaze.
Videos trending online showed the attack at the popular Ekwulobia flyover as they shot sporadically, causing residents to flee for safety.
Different videos showed moments when the gunmen were atop the newly constructed Ekwulobia flyover bridge, and when they were under it, prancing around without challenge and shooting in all directions.
While one man was pictured in one of the videos lying lifeless in his tricycle, another was seen in a separate video lying lifeless in what seemed to be his business premises; a shop.
Meanwhile, police authorities in Anambra State have confirmed the attack, stating that one of the gunmen was also felled during the attack by its operatives.
In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police said it also recovered an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action shotgun, and four vehicles used by the assailants during the operation.
He said: “The team also demobilised one of the armed criminals, recovered one AK-47 rifle, one automatic pump action gun and four vehicles at the scene as the Operatives sustained the onslaught operations in the area.
“The vehicles recovered include one red Toyota Camry vehicle with Reg No: ENU 58 SC, custom colour GLK Mercedes Benz without a registration number, golden colour Lexus 330 with Reg No: ENU 815 AP and one ash Toyota Highlander with Reg No: GDD 517 RW.
“The gunmen also burnt a brown Toyota Sienna vehicle allegedly belonging to the Anambra State Vigilante Group. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and deposited in the morgue.
“Oko Divisional Police Headquarters also witnessed an attack but the gallant Officers on duty repelled the assault by the armed criminals. No casualties were recorded as the aggressive pursuit by the Joint Security Team of the assailants continues in the area.”;
Ikenga said the police commissioner in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu has urged residents of the area to be calm, while operatives of the command have gone after the hoodlums.
