No Ethnic Colouration In Hoodlums’ Attacks In Anambra – Police

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Anambra State Police Command on Friday October 25, 2024, vehemently rejected suggestions that Thursday’s attack in Ifite by gunmen were targeted at a particular group of people.

Rather, it described the unfortunate incident in which about nine persons were killed  as one in the series of attacks in the State of late.

The Source reports that early Thursday Morning October 24, some hoodlums, operating in a white Venza Toyota had stormed  Witness Garden along Amansea road Awka, shooting sporadically.

The attack left no fewer than nine people dead and one other abducted by the assailants.However,  the police said only five people were killed.

Thursday’s attack came on the heels of last Sunday, October 20, massacre of about 11 persons in Nibo and Nodu Communities by suspected members of rival cult gang .

In a statement issued on Friday by the State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga,  expressed regret that some people could be propagating that the unfortunate attack was aimed at people from a particular ethnic background .

He noted that the attack followed the same pattern of previous ones unleashed by suspected cult gangs and hoodlums.

Ikenga informed that the gunmen resorted to shooting indiscriminately to escape from the scene when they realized that the Police had been alerted concerning their operation.

“On 25/10/2024, the Anambra State Police intercepted a protest video regarding the unfortunate. incident that occurred in Ifite Awka on 24/10/2024, which recorded the murder of five individuals ,and left three others seriously injured .

We wish to clarify that this incident was not targeted at any ethnic or religious group.

To set the record straight, preliminary information indicates that the armed men started shooting sporadically as they attempted to flee when Police were alerted to their intentions.

The Command, while not wishing to engage in disputes with any individuals or groups remain committed to ongoing operational patrols enhanced security measures and surveillance aimed at ensuring safety and preventing such incidents in the state”, part of the police statement reads.

The Command while extending its condolences to the families and friends of the victims also reassured of its determination to fish out those responsible for the heinous crime and punish them accordingly.