By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Panic engulfed Oko community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Wednesday night, as gunmen launched another deadly attack that claimed the lives of some individuals, left several others injured, and saw two persons allegedly abducted.
The armed assailants were said to have stormed the town at about 8:40pm and shot indiscriminately at the ever-busy Total Junction and Tipper Junction areas. They were also said to have arrived on a motorcycle and in a black Lexus 350 SUV with no number plate.
According to a press release by the Anambra State Police Command through its Spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, some persons were fatally shot during the incident, while some others, including a young lady, were rescued alive and are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital. He added that two more victims were allegedly kidnapped by the attackers during the chaos, causing further tension in the area.
According to him, reacting swiftly, a combined security team comprising officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante operatives, led by the Area Commander of Aguata, immediately mobilized to the scene and took control of the area to prevent further escalation.
The Command described the shooting as cult-related and reassured the public that they are already acting on credible information obtained from eyewitnesses at the scene. The Command further stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators of the heinous act.
Meanwhile, residents of the community have been urged to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as efforts continue to restore normalcy and ensure justice is served.
The Anambra State Police Command expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Anambra residents.
