Scores Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Two Anambra Communities

By. Chuks Eke

Palpable tension reared its ugly head in Nnewi community in Nnewi North Local Government Area as well as Nnobi community in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, when yet-to-be-identified gunmen invaded both communities on Monday afternoon.

A number of people are believed to have died, while several others were injured to varying degrees during both attacks.

According to sources in the area, several people were injured when assailants suspected of enforcing the Monday sit-at-home exercise opened fire indiscriminately into the air when they arrived.

According to reports, the tragedy began in the industrial town of Nnewi around 11 a.m., when unknown gunmen arrived and killed a vigilante commander (name withheld).

According to the sources, the gunmen arrived in three vehicles and drove straight to a popular hotel in Nnewichi (name withheld). The gunmen abducted one of the people who were present in the hotel at the time of the attack.

“The gunmen shot sporadically into the ground, and bullets flew everywhere on the hotel grounds. Mobile phones and other valuables were taken from the victims the gunmen encountered at the hotel.

“After hearing about the incident, the vigilante commander known as “Tallest” chased the hoodlums.

“However, when the gunmen noticed the vigilante commander trailing them, they shot at him at a point in Nnobi, Idemili South LGA of the state.

“The development forced many people who attempted to defy the sit-at-home directive to quickly close their shops and flee home.”

Similarly, the hoodlums, who were said to have invaded the Nnobi community in a black Landcruiser SUV, opened fire on the vigilantes, injuring two of them seriously.

Eyewitnesses in the area reported that the gunmen went to a burial ceremony and killed two other people.

According to the sources, “They later drove to Afor Nnobi and shot three security personnel before arriving at Awuda village, where one other person was killed.” The injured individuals were transported to a hospital in Nnewi (name withheld), where they are receiving medical care.

Confirming the attacks to journalists over the phone, Anambrarians state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that there was an attack but that he had yet to receive full details as of the time of filing this report.

Ikenga, on the other hand, promised to keep the public informed of the latest developments.