Unknown gunmen launched an attack on the secretariat of the Ihiala Local Government Area [LGA] in Anambra state in the early hours of today, January 12, and killed three persons.
Locals of the area say the armed men first went after the vigilante men who were securing the premises in a gun battle, resulting in the death of three vigilante men and the death of one of the gunmen.
The residents also added that the assailants set so many of the buildings in the secretariat ablaze including the LGA administrative block, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, the Health office building, the Youth Corpers (NYSC) office, the Education Office was completely burnt, and the National Civil Defense Office.
The spokesman of the state police command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, who confirmed the incident, said revoverwt items from the scene include two locally made IED launcher, seven undenoted IED, forty pieces of live cartridges, fifteen live 7.62MM Ak47 ammunition, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons.
”The attackers had already murdered, three vigilante operatives on duty, beheaded one and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs. The joint force operatives engaged the arsonist/attackers, and obstructed them from causing further damages, while some escaped with bullet wounds.
The bodies of the victims were recovered and joint operations are still ongoing. Further development shall be communicated” he said
