Members of the Anambra Vigilante Group, on Monday, allegedly killed two suspects for terrorising residents in Okija community, in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased suspects and their accomplices had been forcing residents in the community to comply with the Monday sit-at-home order in the state.
According to sources in the area, the gunmen, numbering 15, stormed the office of the vigilante operatives thinking they were asleep and attempted to open fire on them but the vigilante members repelled the attack.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the sources said, “Around 3am today, some hoodlums launched an attack on Anambra Security forces but were vehemently resisted.
“Two of the gunmen were gunned down during a hot exchange of gunfire and two AK-47 riffles were also recovered, while many fled the scene.
“Many of the gunmen, who fled as they could not withstand the superior firepower of the security operatives, sustained various degrees of injury and bullet wounds, while members of the Anambra Vigilante Group were unscathed.”
Reacting to the development, Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, confirmed the incident.
Aburime said, “Two suspects were killed by the Anambra Vigilante Group in the early hours of Monday. The need for a sane and secure environment in Anambra State remains a top priority of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.
“Accordingly, security forces remain unrelenting in their resolve to protect the lives and property of ndi Anambra, Travellers and all residents alike.”
Some of the residents who spoke on the development, expressed delight, saying the hoodlums have been terrorising the area for a long time now.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, also confirmed the incident, adding that the police were already engaging in a joint operation with the vigilante operatives to arrest other fleeing suspects of the gang.
He said, “The AVG operatives repelled the attack in the early hours of Monday at their office in the Okija community, demobilised two of the attackers, and recovered two Ak-47 rifles. No life was lost among the operatives and the AVG office is still intact.
“The command wants to use this opportunity to call on the proprietors of both private and public hospitals to admit but report all persons with gunshot or related injuries to the nearest police station.
“From what our men were able to find out, the fleeing suspects sustained bullet injuries, and we are working with AVG operatives to ensure we track them down.”
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