Gunmen set ablaze LG secretariat in Anambra

Some gunmen said to be in their large numbers, have attacked the Ogbaru Local Government Secretariat in Anambra State.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, who invaded the LGA secretariat in the early hours of Friday, set buildings, including a town hall meant for traditional rulers and some administrative facilities at the premises ablaze.

This is the second time in two months that gunmen would attack the Ogbaru LGA as a similar attack was carried out on June 15, 2024.

Although there were no casualties recorded at the moment, sources in the area who witnessed the Friday incident, said the hoodlums shot indiscriminately into the air thereby sending panic to residents.

The sources said the attack, however, has sparked renewed concerns about security in Ogbaru, with the locals saying that some days ago, a security man was killed as a result of bullet wounds he sustained from gunmen attack.

One of the sources in the area said, “Gunmen numbering about 30 who emerged from the bush at about 5 am, chanted songs as they stormed the local government secretariat, shooting into the air.

“They trekked from their hideouts and got to Atani Magistrate Court located near the council and started setting some buildings within the council ablaze, including the main secretariat and traditional rulers’ buildings.

“The hoodlums were about to set some other buildings ablaze before the arrival of security operatives who opened fire against them. The arrival of the police officers made them flee back into the bushes.

“Sincerely speaking a lot is happening and the security situation in the area is getting worse and nobody cares to speak up because of fear. Just yesterday a security man known as CY died as a result of the bullet wound he sustained during a gun battle with the gunmen at the Amiyi community on 27-8-2024.

“On August 5, two young men were shot dead by the hoodlums and five days ago, a retired policeman was beaten to death by the same criminal gang.”

When contacted, the Anambra state police spokesman, Superintendent of Police, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, adding that a joint security operation is still going on in the area.

Ikenga said, “The Commissioner of Police, Anambra state Police Command, Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, has condemned the morning attack at the Ogbaru Local Government Headquarters Secretariat by the gunmen.

“The security operatives gallantly resisted the attack of the gunmen on Ogbaru LGA in the early hours of today, August 30. Some LGA properties were destroyed, and some buildings were also affected, but no life was lost.

“The hoodlums fled the scene due to the superior firepower of security operatives. At the moment, the joint security operation is still ongoing. Further development shall be communicated, please.”

Recalled that on June 15, 2024, some yet-to-be-identified assailants, arriving in large numbers on motorcycles, had also attacked the same Ogbaru LG, after shooting indiscriminately.

The attack, which destroyed four patrol vehicles belonging to the vigilantes, was described as an act of cowardice by the police.