Police patrol teams in gun duel in Anambra, pedestrians injured

An attempt by security operatives to apprehend suspected criminals in Nnewi, Nnewi Local Council of Anambra State, yesterday led to a sporadic gun duel between two police patrol teams.

The Guardian learnt that during the incident, two pedestrians were hit by stray bullets while a vehicle was set ablaze.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the injured civilians were immediately taken to a nearby health facility for treatment.

In a statement yesterday, Ikenga explained that the suspects’ vehicle, a Toyota Venza Sedan, was struck during the exchange and subsequently razed, but he emphasised that there were no fatalities.

He said the clash occurred near the Izuchukwu junction along the Nnobi-Nnewi road at about 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday. He attributed the gunfire to a case of mistaken identity, where security operatives mistook police officers for unfriendly forces.

Ikenga clarified: “The Command is aware of the shooting incident that took place at Izuchukwu junction, Nnobi/Nnewi road at about 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, where security operatives mistook police operatives as unfriendly forces and opened fire at them.

“However, I wish to emphasise that the attack on the operatives was not from non-state actors or any attempt to disrupt the burial of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.”

He added that the incident occurred during an investigation in which security operatives trailed suspects to a security checkpoint before the gun duel ensued.

“Unfortunately, bullets hit the fuel tank of the Toyota Venza Sedan carrying the men, and it was razed down. Two innocent passers-by were injured and taken to hospital. The Command sued for calm to allow for investigations into the incident,” Ikenga said.

He also assured that Joint Security Forces had been deployed to Nnewi and its environs to maintain calm throughout the burial ceremonies of the late Ubah.