Gunmen killed seven of our people in Anambra, Hausa community cries out
…Police refutes claim
Barely three days after some Fulani herders were abducted with their cows at Ubene community in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, and later found without any ransom paid, through the quick intervention of the combine team of security agencies led by the Police, the Hausa Community in the state has also cried out for help, saying no fewer than seven of its people have been killed by armed hoodlums, suspected to be gunmen operating in Southeast region of the country.
The latest incident according to a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Onitsha, on Wednesday, by the Secretary General, Hausa Community in Anambra State, Barrister Mahmud Imam, happened on the 18th April, 2022, at Atani, Headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State, at night hours.
According to Barr. Imam, properties worth millions of naira were also destroyed during the attack.
He called on the state government to come to their rescue to avoid further killings of his people in the state.
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The statement read; “In view of recent escalation of insecurity situation in the state our people have become targets of series of attacks by unknown gunmen operating in different parts of the state.
“It’s worthy of note that these attacks starting since October 2021 which resulted to the lost of many lives and properties worth millions of naira lost.
“Moreover, we have been living peaceful with our host communities within the state for almost 200 years without any serious misunderstanding, therefore we are calling on all relevant stakeholders to as a matter of urgency to intervene and bring to an end to such criminal activities because we are law abiding citizens going about our lawful business in the state. Anambra is our state we do not have any other place to go.
“More recently on the 18th April, 2022, these unknown gunmen attacks our people residing at Atani Ogbaru Local Govt. which caused us lost of 7 lives, in a location within the vicinity of the Local Government Secretariat at night whose bodies were evacuated by the council chairman himself to St. Charles Boromeo Hospital and deposited at mortuary.
“It should be noted that from October 2021 to date our people are being killed by these faceless unknown gunmen every month in the following locations; Aguata, Nnewi South & North, Idemili and Ihiala Local Government Areas of the state.
“Finally, we call on the state government to come for our rescue to avoid further killings of our people and the state in general”, the statement concluded.
But the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, in his reaction on behalf of the Command, urged the public to disregard the report, saying the information is not true.
According to Tochukwu, to set the records straight, Police Operatives in the early hours of 18/4/2022 foil an attempt of arson by some miscreants at Ogbaru LGA. The Police Operatives engage and resisted the hoodlums from causing damage on the LGA structure.
The hoodlums in a bid to escape, started shooting sporadically and unfortunately bullet hit some persons while seven other persons where fatally wounded during the foiled arson in the LGA. Further details reveals that the persons affected are civilian guards and motorcycle operators working in and within the Local Government Area.
“I urged the Hausa Community Leadership to come forward with their evidence with videos and pictures to enable the Police investigate properly.
“Meanwhile, Police Operatives have since taken over the area and calm has also return in the area.”