…Joint Security Forces Neutralize One Gunman, Recover Weapons and Vehicles Amid Renewed Onslaught
Residents of Aguata Local Government Area in Anambra State were thrown into panic on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, following a bloody confrontation between armed hoodlums and security operatives, which left two innocent civilians dead, several vehicles riddled with bullets, and a security van burnt.
The early morning attack, described as a bloodbath, occurred simultaneously under the Ekwulobia flyover and around Oko, where gunmen opened fire indiscriminately on unsuspecting residents and motorists.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, a swift response from a joint security task force led to a fierce gun duel with the attackers. One of the gunmen was fatally demobilized, while security agents recovered an AK-47 rifle, a pump-action shotgun, and four vehicles used by the assailants.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident in an official statement, said:
“Anambra Police-led Security Force contained a shooting incident in the early hours of today, 9th July 2025, at Oko and Ekwulobia flyover, Aguata LGA. The team demobilised one of the armed criminals, recovered two rifles and four vehicles at the scene as operations continue.”
The recovered vehicles include a red Toyota Camry (Reg No: ENU 58 SC), a custom-colored Mercedes Benz GLK without a registration number, a gold Lexus 330 (Reg No: ENU 815 AP), and an ash Toyota Highlander (Reg No: GDD 517 RW).
Tragically, two civilians were gunned down during the attack, and a brown Toyota Sienna vehicle, allegedly belonging to the Anambra State Vigilante Group, was set ablaze.
“Regrettably, the incident recorded the death of two unsuspecting members of the public and the burning of a security vehicle,” Ikenga said, noting that the bodies have been recovered and deposited in a morgue.
In a related development, armed assailants attempted an attack on the Oko Divisional Police Headquarters. However, officers on duty bravely repelled the assault with no casualties recorded.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD, has since reinforced security deployments in the area and ordered an intensified manhunt for fleeing members of the gang.
“Adequate security measures have been put in place. Residents are hereby urged to remain calm as efforts to ensure their safety continue unabated,” Ikenga assured.
As security forces continue their mop-up operations, the Anambra Police Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The fresh wave of violence comes amid broader efforts to combat rising insecurity across the Southeast, renewing fears among residents of a possible escalation if the criminal networks are not swiftly dismantled.
