Violent Attacks Erupt in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone as Gunmen Enforce Sit-At-Home Order
Communities in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone were gripped by fear and uncertainty on Monday morning after a series of violent attacks by armed gunmen who appeared to be enforcing a banned sit-at-home order.
A total of five deaths were reported, with the majority of the victims belonging to the Anambra Vigilante Service. According to eyewitnesses, the attacks began around 8am and continued until 10am, leaving a trail of destruction and terror in its wake.
The first attack took place in Abatete, where the gunmen targeted security personnel assigned to the town’s President-General. Three vigilantes lost their lives in the ambush, and the PG sustained serious injuries that required immediate hospitalization.
Further attacks were reported in Abagana and Ukpo, where a member of the Vigilante Group and a motorcycle rider were killed in an indiscriminate shooting spree at the Ukpo roundabout in Dunukofia Local Government Area.
Panic has spread across Anambra Central, with residents in nearby communities fearing for their safety. A voice note circulating on social media warned people in Awka, the state capital, to remain indoors due to the proximity of the attacks.
Locals are still reeling from the senseless violence, with many taking to social media to express their shock and distress. “We are praying for the recovery of our PG. This senseless violence has left our community shaken,” said a local from Abatete.
Another community member from Ukpo wrote on Facebook: “It was chaos. The attackers came out of nowhere, shooting indiscriminately. Shouting no Biafra, no freedom. We are still trying to process what happened.”
The Anambra State police spokesperson confirmed that details of the incidents were still unclear, but assured that police teams were already on the ground investigating the attacks.
