Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Gunmen have ambushed Ukpomachi village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, killings 19 persons suspected to be herders while also destroying their properties worth millions of naira.
The Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, South East zone, Alhaji Gidado Sidikki, who resides in Anambra State also confirmed the killing of 23 cows by the attackers.
The incident, according to him, happened at 2am Monday at Modiyam Umaru camp where herdsmen have been living for many years.
He further said children were not spared by the assailants.
“As I speak to you now, the dead bodies are with us at Amasea community in Awka North Local Government Area.
“One and two-year-old children, whose parents were killed in the attack, are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state,” Sidikki stated.
He, however, appealed to his members not to react but allow the police and other security agencies to do their work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
Sidikki said the gunmen shot repeatedly, which, according to him, scared students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, who ran away for fear of being harmed.
Confirming the incident in a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said investigation had commenced to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to him, “the Commissioner has ordered the immediate deployment of the command’s operational and intelligence assets to identify and apprehend the unknown armed men, who violently attacked Ukpomachi Village, Awkuzu in Oyi LGA of the State, in the early hours of 26th, April 2021.
“Meanwhile, a crack team of Police operatives of the command, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, have visited the scene and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident.
He said that the command had successfully restored normalcy in the area to forestall reccurrence of the incident.
The assailants, Tochukwu said, were said to be armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons when they invaded the village in their numbers and attacked the residents.
“The attack resulted in the death of nine persons [whose identities are yet unknown], injuries on some others as well as destruction of buildings and livestock.”
The PPRO, further said the Commissioner had assured the Community, of the Command’s resolve to get to the root of the incident, while calling on them to remain calm.
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