The bloodletting in parts of South East, especially Anambra State has continued unabated as gunmen on Friday night attacked a vigilante and police facilities at Abagana, in Njikoka Local Government Area.
A source from the area said there was a rain of bullets in the area at about 9 pm, and that the incident lasted for close to 45 minutes.
A resident of the Area, Nnaemeka Obitube said at least three vigilante operatives were gunned down by the bandits, while several persons, including Obitube himself and his friend, Odi, who live around the area sustained bullet wounds.
Obitube who said his arm was brushed by a stray bullet but has been treated, also narrated how the incident happened.
“It was very unimaginable. It was the Chelsea match that kept me outside at that time. The boys came prepared, they shot 3 vigilante operatives on arrival, then drove down to Enugwu-Ukwu, turned back and stopped in front of the police station and vigilante office.
“They set the inmates free and set the facilities ablaze.
“The corpses (of the slain vigilante operatives) are still lying by the roadside, along Union Bank to the secretariat. RIP to the dead who paid the ultimate price.”
He also claimed to know two of the slain vigilante operatives: “Just two known for now: Agu-Rice and Mr Benjamin Ilonze. Others have badly shot faces, and can not be recognized.”
The state police command’s spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga in his reaction said the vigilante operatives murdered by the bandits were two and not three.
He also added that police operatives stoutly resisted the bandits, causing them to flee. “They only threw petrol bombs on old structures in the station which affected the building partially.”
The statement from the police reads:
“On 3/2/2023 by 11:30 pm, Police Operatives attached to Abagana Police Station resisted gunmen’s attack on the station and forestall the attackers from gaining entrance to the Police facility.
“The gunmen had earlier attacked, Anambra State Vigilante Operatives on patrol, murdered two of their operatives, and on approaching Abagana Police Station, started shooting sporadically to gain entrance to the Police Station. The Police Operatives engaged the armed men in a gun duel, due to the superior fire of the police and in a bid for the gunmen to flee the scene, threw a petrol bomb into the station, which ignited the fire and affected the roof of an old building in the station. The fire service operatives responded swiftly and put off the fire.
“Meanwhile, patrols have been intensified in the area and within the state, further, development shall be communicated, please.”
