Heavily armed gunmen have reportedly disrupted a traditional title ceremony in Amakor village, Nanka Community of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The gunmen who stormed the venue of the traditional ceremony kidnap eight persons and injured twelve others during the raid.
According to an eyewitness, Emmanuel Ilo, said he escaped from the scene of the ceremony by divine intervention.
The Ozo title holder, stated that the policemen guarding the venue attempted to resist the gunmen, but were overpowered.
He said: “While the event was reaching its climax, some armed men, some of whom covered their faces, stormed the venue. They were accompanied by some community members and immediately began the attack.
“Without any explanation or engagement with the organizers of the event, the men began to scatter things at the venue. They intimidated and brutalized many of the participants and organizers. Kicking some of them in their manhood, while the armed men stood by, including some dressed in police uniforms.
“I managed to escape from the scene when the gunmen struck.”
According to Ilo, after the assault, about eight people, including the Amakor village chairman, Barr. Obinna Ilo were abducted. He gave the names of the others as Emerie Ilo, Sam Eminike, and Chief Asina Okafor. He stated that the abductees were forced into waiting Sienna vehicles and driven to an unknown location.
Ilo added that some other participants, however, managed to escape and have been in hiding since then.
He stated that the whereabouts of the abducted individuals have remained unknown. No official contact has been made with their families by the abductors.
He also added that the kidnapped individuals’ phone numbers have been switched off since the incident.
Ilo stated that the identities of the abductors and their motives have remained unclear. As a result, creating uncertainty for the families and the entire community.
However, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was unaware of the incident.
He advised that people of the community should report to the nearest police station.
On the allegation that some of the abductors were in police uniforms, the PPRO said: “Police don’t kidnap, and police don’t abduct.
“If they were arrested, the police would have reached out to their families and allow them to make calls,” Ikenja said.
source: Vanguard
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