Gunmen on Friday, August 30 attacked the Ogbaru Local Government Secretariat in Anambra State, the second time in two months.
Recall that the gunmen attack the Ogbaru LGA on June 15, 2024, in similar style as that of Friday, where they also built buildings.
According to PUNCH the hoodlums, who invaded the LGA secretariat in the early hours of Friday, set buildings, including a town hall meant for traditional rulers and some administrative facilities at the premises ablaze.
Although there were no casualties recorded at the moment, sources in the area who witnessed the Friday incident, said the hoodlums shot indiscriminately into the air, thereby sending panic to residents, PUNCH reported.
The sources said the attack, however, has sparked renewed concerns about security in Ogbaru. This is even as some of the locals reported the killing of a security guard in the area. They maintained that he died following bullet wounds he sustained from gunmen attack.
“Gunmen numbering about 30 who emerged from the bush at about 5 am, chanted songs as they stormed the Local Government Secretariat, shooting into the air, one of the sources in the area said,
“They trekked from their hideouts and got to Atani Magistrate Court located near the Council. On getting there, they started setting some buildings within the council ablaze. Including the main Secretariat and Traditional Rulers’ buildings.
“The hoodlums were about to set some other buildings ablaze before the arrival of security operatives who opened fire against them. The arrival of the police officers made them flee back into the bushes.
“Sincerely speaking, a lot is happening and the security situation in the area is getting worse. Nobody cares to speak up because of fear. Just yesterday, a security man known as CY died as a result of the bullet wound. He sustained the wound during a gun battle with the gunmen at the Amiyi community on 27-8-2024.
“On August 5, two young men were shot dead by the hoodlums. And five days ago, a retired policeman was beaten to death by the same criminal gang,” PUNCH quoted the source.
The Anambra State Police spokesman, Superintendent of Police, Tochukwu Ikenga, has confirmed the incident. He, however, stated that a joint security operation is still going on in the area to apprehend the perpetrators.
“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, has condemned the morning attack at the Ogbaru Local Government Headquarters Secretariat by the gunmen.
“The security operatives gallantly resisted the attack of the gunmen on Ogbaru LGA in the early hours of today, August 30. Some LGA properties were destroyed, and some buildings were also affected, but no life was lost.
“The hoodlums fled the scene due to the superior firepower of security operatives. At the moment, the joint security operation is still ongoing. Further development shall be communicated, please,” Ikenga said.
source: PUCNH
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