Thursday, July 10, 2025 - There was panic at the Ekwulobia and Oko communities in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Wednesday, when some yet-to-be-identified gunmen, in large numbers, invaded the areas and started shooting indiscriminately, killing about four persons and injuring many others in the process.
According to eyewitnesses in the community and videos making
the rounds on social media, monitored by our correspondent, the heavily armed
men came into the community at about 8 am on Wednesday.
According to Punch, they also set ablaze one of the security vehicles used by the joint security team in the area and some other vehicles. Oko and Ekwulobia are neighbouring communities.
One of the eyewitnesses, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity, said, “The heavily armed hoodlums in their large numbers entered the
Ekwulobia community at about 8.00 am today (Wednesday) and mounted on the
newly-built bridge at the centre of the town from where they first launched
attacks on the joint security patrol team of the police and the army as well as
members of the state Agunaechemba security.
“There was confusion everywhere, and most of the people,
workers going to work and traders coming from their homes to open their shops,
ran helter-skelter in search of safety. The shootings occurred for several
minutes before the arrival of the security team, who engaged the hoodlums in a
gun duel.
“About four persons were already recorded dead, and many
others injured. Two people were shot while in a tricycle.”
The state police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who
confirmed the development when contacted by our correspondent, said the joint
security task force had taken over the area on the orders of the Commissioner
of Police, and that normalcy had returned.
Ikenga noted that the incident recorded a fatal gunshot
injury to two unsuspecting members of the public and the burning of a security
vehicle.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command-led security
force contained a shooting incident in the early hours of today, July 9, 2025,
at Oko and Ekwulobia flyover, Aguata Local Government Area.
“The team also demobilised one of the armed criminals,
recovered one AK-47 rifle, one automatic pump action gun and four vehicles at
the scene as the operatives sustained the onslaught operations in the area.
“The vehicles recovered include one red Toyota Camry vehicle
with Reg No: ENU 58 SC, custom colour GLK Mercedes Benz without a registration
number, golden colour Lexus 330 with Reg No: ENU 815 AP and one ash Toyota
Highlander with Reg No: GDD 517 RW.
“The armed criminals unprovokedly shot indiscriminately
under the Ekwulobia flyover. Consequently, in a swift response, the joint
security team engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel.
“Regrettably, the incident recorded the death of two
unsuspecting members of the public and the burning of a brown Toyota Sienna
vehicle allegedly belonging to the Anambra State Vigilante Group. Meanwhile,
the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and deposited in the morgue.”
He said in another development, the Oko Divisional Police
Headquarters witnessed an attack, but the gallant officers on duty repelled the
assault by the armed criminals, adding that no casualties were recorded as the
aggressive pursuit by the joint security team of the assailants continued in
the area.
“Given the above, adequate security measures have been put
in place at the instance of the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu.
“Residents are hereby urged to remain calm as efforts to
ensure their safety continue unabated. Further development will be
communicated,” he added.
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