Suspected hoodlums attacked a vigilante office in the Umunze community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, in the early hours of Thursday, setting five vehicles and parts of the building on fire.
According to the PUNCH, the attackers stormed the area and started shooting heavily, causing panic in the neighbourhood.
A resident who witnessed the attack said, “The hoodlums invaded the premises in the early hours of Thursday and started shooting indiscriminately. The matter got worse when one of the vigilante members got seriously injured during a gun battle.”
According to the eyewitness, the attackers later set about five operational vehicles on fire and burnt parts of the security office before escaping. The police and other security agencies arrived at the scene after the assailants had fled.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police-led Joint Security Force had taken over the area and begun investigations.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has condemned the attack on vigilante operatives in Umunze,” Ikenga said. “He also stressed the importance of community support to help bring the attackers to justice.”
He added, “The unfortunate incident happened in the early hours of Thursday, where the suspected armed men attacked the vigilante’s office at Umunze and set five of their operational vehicles ablaze.
“The security operatives, in an attempt to resist the gunmen during the gun duel, recorded a fatal injury on one of the security operatives. Some parts of the security office also got burnt by the hoodlums.”
Ikenga urged local residents to work closely with security agencies, noting that community collaboration is key to ending such criminal activities.
“Further developments shall be communicated,” he said.
