12th January, 2023
The spate of attacks attributed to unknown gunmen in Anambra continued in the early hours of Thursday with the killing of three vigilante operatives and bombing of the secretariat of Ihiala Local Government Area of the State.
The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the local government was also bombed in the attack which occurred about 48 hours after a police station in the was also attacked
Sources in the area said the gunmen attacked the Ihiala local government headquarters in the early hours of Thursday had engaged the vigilante operatives who were guarding the facility in a fierce gun battle. They successfully subdued the security operatives, killing three of them with one of them slaughtered before they began to set fire to buildings in the secretariat.
The gunmen, the source said successfully burn structures housing the administrative block, INEC office, Health office department, NYSC, Education department and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Office all located inside the secretariat headquarters.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra Police Command confirmed the attack in the statement.
He said one of the attackers was arrested, while two locally made IED launcher, seven undetonated IED, 40 pieces of live cartridges, 15 live 7.62MM Ak47 ammunition, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons by security operatives who responded to the attack.
He added that before the response of the security operatives, the gunmen had already killed three vigilante operatives and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs.
He said, ”Following the Police/Military operations ongoing in ihaila and its neighboring town, the Operatives responding to a distress call at about 2:55 am, today( Thursday) of an attack on Ihiala local government headquarters, neutralized one of the attackers, recovered two locally made IED luncher, seven undetonated IED, 40 pieces of live cartridges, 15 live 7.62MM Ak47 ammunition, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons.
“The attackers had already murdered, three vigilante operatives on duty, beheaded one and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs. The joint force operatives engaged the arsonist/attackers, and obstructed them from causing further damages, while some escaped with bullet wounds.
“The bodies of the victims were recovered and joint operations are still ongoing.
“Further development shall be communicated.’