See the Number Dead as Gunmen Attack Anambra Communities Over Sit-at-Home Enforcement
Tension gripped several communities in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone on Monday morning as gunmen, believed to be enforcing the banned sit-at-home order, launched violent attacks.
Reports from First Class Gists indicate that between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., multiple locations including Abatete, Abagana, and Ukpo were targeted, resulting in the deaths of at least five individuals, with the majority being members of the Anambra Vigilante Services.
The first attack took place in Abatete, where gunmen opened fire on security personnel assigned to the town’s President-General (PG). Three vigilante members were killed, and the PG sustained serious injuries, prompting his immediate transfer to a nearby hospital for treatment.
In separate assaults, gunmen targeted Abagana and Ukpo. At the Ukpo roundabout in Dunukofia Local Government Area, one vigilante member and a motorcyclist were fatally shot.
The brutal attacks have left residents of Anambra Central in a state of fear and confusion. Community members have expressed their shock, with some calling for calm. A widely circulated voice note on social media urged Awka residents to stay indoors due to the proximity of the affected areas.
A resident of Abatete said, “We are all praying for the recovery of our PG. This senseless violence has deeply shaken us.”
A member of the Ukpo community posted on Facebook: “It was pure chaos. The attackers emerged out of nowhere, firing wildly and chanting ‘no Biafra, no freedom.’ We’re still processing what happened.”
When contacted for an official statement, the Anambra Police spokesperson, SP, confirmed that details of the incident were still unclear, but law enforcement officers were at the scene and promised to provide more information as it became available.
