Gunmen suspected of enforcing the Monday sit-at-home order attacked Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area and Abatete in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, killing four people.
The attack happened on Monday morning, starting in Abatete at about 8:30 am, where the gunmen opened fire on residents. They then moved to the Ukpo Roundabout, firing at random and targeting members of the Anambra State Vigilante Operatives.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers also set vigilante vehicles on fire. Videos circulating on social media show the bodies of vigilante operatives lying in pools of blood at the Ukpo Roundabout and in Abatete.
In one of the videos, the President-General of Abatete Community, Chimame Ezigbo, is seen being rushed to the hospital after being hit by a bullet. Another vigilante member was also injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.
A resident described the scene, saying, “The gunmen shot at people without mercy. Four vigilante men died, and many others were injured.”
The spokesperson for the state’s Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, when contacted by BREAKINGNG on Monday, said the police would issue a statement to address the matter.
The PPRO, when asked what efforts were being made by the police to apprehend the suspects, simply said “I’m working on a statement on it.”
He had yet to issue the statement as of the time of filing this report.
