Tension gripped communities in the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone as armed assailants, believed to be enforcing the proscribed sit-at-home order, unleashed a series of attacks on Monday morning.
The violence, which erupted between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., left no fewer than five people dead and sent waves of panic across the region.
Sources revealed that the coordinated assaults took place in Abatete, Abagana, and Ukpo, with casualties mainly among members of the Anambra Vigilante Services.
The first incident targeted Abatete, where vigilant personnel assigned to protect the President-General (PG) of the town were ambushed. In the ensuing gunfire, three security men were killed, and the PG sustained critical injuries before being rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent care.
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Within hours, gunmen struck in Abagana and Ukpo, further compounding the fear permeating the area.
At the bustling Ukpo roundabout in Dunukofia Local Government Area, a member of the local vigilante group and an unsuspecting motorcycle rider were fatally shot, adding to the day’s toll.
The attacks have left the communities in shock. Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos and terror sparked by the sudden violence. A circulating voice note on social media warned residents of Awka, the state capital, to stay indoors due to its proximity to the affected areas.
A resident from Abatete shared: “We are praying for the recovery of our PG. This senseless violence has left our community shaken.”
On social media, another witness from Ukpo described the ordeal: “It was chaos. The attackers came out of nowhere, shooting indiscriminately and shouting ‘No Biafra, no freedom.’ We are still trying to process what happened.”
Law enforcement has been deployed to the affected scenes. The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police, SP, confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
“The details are still sketchy, but our operatives are currently at the scene. I will provide updates as soon as more facts are available,” SP stated.