“It was a rain of bullets at Uga Roundabout, Aguata LGA, Anambra state, this evening 28 /12 /2023 around 5:50 pm as unknown gunmen came in their terrific numbers from Umuchu – Umunze road, all carrying AK47 Assault riffles and kidnapping people at random in flashy cars.
“They were not in a hurry to go and remained for long unchallenged. When they sighted a group of policemen coming up from EZINIFITE axis, they opened fire and gunned down two of them. Very sad. People were seen screaming, running, and scampering away for their dear lives as the gunshots were deafening and frightening.
Bullets from their AK 47 shattered the windows of our CAPAD Filling Station though as at press time, no injuries were recorded therein.
“Anambra State remains a target zone from hoodlums coming from neighbouring states and elsewhere. We call on all to be cautious and security conscious while we pray for those officers on duty who regrettably lost their lives in these needless carnage at the time of our yearly Christmas festivities,” an unnamed person who witnessed the rage posted on social media.
At the end, two Police officers were shot dead by the assailants whom police confirmed were on a kidnap mission when a team of policemen attached to a motorcade but unaware of their presence, ran into them. The Policemen were trying to clear the traffic gridlock but the armed men who sensed danger, shot two of them dead and fled the scene after a duel following response from other personnel.
Meanwhile, Mr Aderemi Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in Anambra, has directed an intensive manhunt for the assailants. DSP Toochulwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Anambra Command who disclosed this in a statement, said the gunmen were disguised in military fatigue.
Ikenga said Police-led mobile Forward Operating Base which had been on intensive patrol of the entire area throughout Christmas celebrations promptly responded to the scene. He said a Lexus SUV the gang used, and AK-47 RIFLE belonging to one of the slain personnel were recovered while an improvised explosive device found in the vehicle was recovered and defused.
According to him, they opened fire on the officers who had moved ahead of the motorcade they were escorting to decongest traffic gridlock, other personnel returned fire forcing the bandits to flee.
