No fewer than five persons were on Monday reportedly killed in a gunmen simultaneous attacks in Ukpo and Abatete communities in Anambra State.
Among the deceased were three security men and the President General of one of the communities, whose identity is still unknown and was critically injured and rushed to a nearby hospital.
The gunmen were said to have stormed Abatete town around 8am, targeting security personnel attached to the town’s PG.
“We are praying for the PG’s recovery. This senseless violence has left our community shaken,” a community leader said.
In a separate incident, gunmen attacked Ukpo Community at the Ukpo roundabout, in Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state killing one Vigilante Group member and a motorcycle rider.
“It was chaos,” said an eyewitness. “The attackers came out of nowhere, shooting indiscriminately. Shouting no Biafra, no freedom.We are still trying to process what happened.”
A police source who pleaded anonymity said, “The police have launched an investigation into the attacks and are working to apprehend the perpetrators.
“We condemn these heinous acts and assure the public that we will do everything possible to bring the culprits to justice,” said the source.
Residents of Abatete and Ukpo are in shock, with many calling for increased security presence.
“We are tired of living in fear,” said a local resident. “The government must do more to protect us.”
“The incidents occurred within a two-hour window, with the first attack happening at 8:00am in Abatete and the second at 8:45am in Ukpo,” a source said.
