Gunmen attacked a police checkpoint at Ajali, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident was confirmed by Tochukwu Ikenga, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Anambra State Police Command, in a statement on Friday.
Superintendent of Police Ikenga stated that two security operatives sustained gunshot injuries during a gun duel and are currently receiving medical treatment. The victims were identified as a police officer and a member of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG).
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“During the gun duel, one police officer and one AVG operative sustained gunshot injuries and are currently responding to treatment in a hospital,” he said. “Unfortunately, two operational vehicles belonging to the AVG were caught in the fire and completely razed.”
The statement mentioned that the gunmen were intercepted on Thursday on the Umuchu-Amesi-Uga Road. Recovered from them was a branded blue Hilux vehicle, suspected to have been snatched from an unsuspecting member of the public. During a search of the vehicle, coolers for food preservation were found.
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The gunmen were trailed after police operatives resisted the attack at the checkpoint. Ikenga added that joint operations are ongoing in the area, and further developments will be communicated.
Anambra is among the South-Eastern states witnessing a series of attacks by gunmen suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Other affected states include Abia, Imo, Enugu, and Ebonyi.
Despite the presence of security operatives, these gunmen have continued to launch attacks and enforce sit-at-home orders on Mondays, causing significant economic losses in the region. It remains unclear if the latest attack in Anambra was carried out by IPOB/ESN.
