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Residents of Ekwulobia and Oko in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State, woke up in fear today as unknown gunmen unleashed terror in a massive shooting incident under the Ekwulobia flyover.
The attack, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, ninth July, two thousand and twenty-five, left two innocent people dead and a brown Toyota Sienna vehicle, said to belong to the Anambra State Vigilante Group, burnt to ashes.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the armed criminals came out without warning and started shooting indiscriminately under the busy flyover. This forced residents and passersby to run for their lives as bullets flew in different directions.
In a swift move, a Joint Security Team, led by the Police and other security agencies, responded immediately to the distress calls. They engaged the gunmen in a fierce gun battle which lasted for some time. During the operation, the security team succeeded in demobilising one of the armed criminals.
In a statement made available to PRUDENTJ2, the Police confirmed that they recovered deadly weapons and vehicles from the scene of the shooting. The recovered items include:
- One AK-47 rifle
- One automatic pump action gun
- Four vehicles:
- A red Toyota Camry with registration number ENU 58 SC
- A custom-coloured GLK Mercedes Benz with no registration number
- A golden Lexus 330 with registration number ENU 815 AP
- An ash-coloured Toyota Highlander with registration number GDD 517 RW
The Police also confirmed that the bodies of the two people who died during the shooting have been recovered and taken to the mortuary.
Sadly, this was not the only attack recorded in the area. In another incident, the Oko Divisional Police Headquarters came under attack from the same armed criminals. But thanks to the gallant officers on duty, the criminals were repelled, and no police officer was killed or injured.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has since put more security measures in place across the affected areas. He assured residents that security operatives will not rest until those behind these wicked acts are arrested and brought to justice.
He urged people in Ekwulobia, Oko, and nearby communities to stay calm but remain vigilant. He also called on residents to help the Police with any useful information that can help track down the remaining criminals who are still on the run.
His words read in part:
“Given the above, adequate security measures have been put in place at the instance of the Commissioner of Police. Residents are hereby urged to remain calm as efforts to ensure their safety continue unabated.”
Meanwhile, patrols have been increased around the flyover and other sensitive spots in Aguata LGA to prevent further attacks.
Many residents who spoke with Prudentj2 said they are still in shock over the shooting. A trader at the Ekwulobia market, Mrs Chinasa Okafor, said she hid inside her shop when she heard gunshots early in the morning. She said she is still afraid to open fully for business.
Another resident, Mr Ejike Umeh, described the incident as terrible and called on the government to strengthen security in the area. He said, “These boys are becoming too bold. We cannot live in fear in our own land. We want peace to return to Ekwulobia.”
At the time of this report, the Joint Security Team is still combing the area in search of the other gunmen who escaped during the gun duel.
The Police have promised to share more updates as they continue their investigation.
