How gunmen killed seven persons in Anambra community, by police

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the killing of seven persons, including security operatives, at Ihiala in the Ihiala local government area of the state on Monday.

Spokesman of Anambra Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Monday night, disclosed that the attack was carried out by armed men who shot sporadically at a venue where preparations “are ongoing for a burial ceremony slated for 2nd of January, 2025.”

Earlier reports indicated that the incident, which occurred at around 11:30 am, saw gunmen, who claimed to be enforcing a sit-at-home order, shooting indiscriminately at people within the area.

The Guardian learnt that two policemen, some members of the local vigilante group, and civilians were shot dead during the attack.

Ikenga said the “Commissioner of Police Nnaghe Obono Itam has ordered an immediate manhunt of the assailants who attacked Security Operatives and unarmed civilians in Ihiala by 11.20am on 30th December 2024.

“The unfortunate attack resulted in the death of seven persons among which are two unarmed passers-by. The Joint Security Team rescued one of the victims who is currently responding to treatment in a hospital.

“The CP while on an on-the-spot assessment visit to the scene interviewed some eyewitnesses of the incident. Information also had it that the armed men started shooting sporadically at a venue where preparations are ongoing for a burial ceremony slated for 2nd of January, 2025.”

Ikenga added that the armed men had while escaping from the scene, shot at two Security Operatives at a security Observation Post close to the Local Government Headquarters by the Express Road.

Chairman Ihiala local government area, Anayochukwu Charles Orjiako, expressed the grief of the Council over the killings. He condemned the dastardly act in a release issued to reporters.

“The Chairman strongly condemns this heinous act, which is conspicuously an attack on the security architecture of our local government area,” he said.

The council boss expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured personnel a speedy recovery.

“We are deeply pained by this senseless killing of our security personnel, who were working tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of our people,” Orjiako said.

“We condemn this act in its entirety and call on the perpetrators to surrender themselves to the authorities or consider themselves to have murdered sleep, the implication of which is glaring.”