From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Gunmen yesterday invaded Ogbaru Local Governnent Area secretariat in Atani, Anambra State.
The assailants, sources said, arrived in large numbers on motorcycles and a vehicle and began shooting indiscriminately though they faced strong resistance from the vigilantes until the police arrived.
It could not be confirmed whether there was any casualty recorded, however, videos of vehicles burnt in the attack have been trending online.
The Anambra State Police Command in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the gunmen fled the scene due to the superior firepower of the security operatives.
Ikenga confirmed that four operational vehicles of the security operatives were engulfed in flames and severely damaged.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command, Nnaghe Obono Itam, condemned the attack which has been described as an act of cowardice.
“Notably, there were no casualties. In response to this incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations led a joint security force comprising the army, navy, and other security agencies to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment. An onslaught is being carried out to apprehend the culprits.
“The Commissioner of Police commended the security operatives for their bravery and assured the public of continued and strengthened collaboration in the fight against criminal elements in the state,” he stated.
Ogbaru axis of the state has recorded some security breaches recently with cases of killing of soldiers, kidnapping and abduction of some vigilante members.