No fewer than two policemen were allegedly killed and many were kidnapped on Thursday, December 29, as gunmen returned to Anambra state to cause mayhem.
A resident of the Uga community in the Aguata local government area had raised the alarm, calling on security agencies and the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to save their lives.
The hoodlums, The Nation gathered brandished AK-47 guns and shot sporadically at the Uga junction unchallenged.
The junction leads to the home of the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Andy Uba and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Chris Uba.
The source described what happened in the community as bloody.
An eyewitness said: “The security men we have these days are the ones who make money their number priority. They are only interested in collecting tolls at each junction
“At the gate of Aguata local government headquarters, they’re there (both police and military, including vigilante) escorting innocent citizens of their hard-earned money at these hard times with intimidation.
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“Is that how we’re going to better the society when our people are being killed and kidnapped on a daily basis while security agents who are to protect lives and property being paid with our money are busy robbing motorists on our roads.”
The hoodlums in their scores were said to be kidnapping people freely while in operation for hours without any form of resistance.
Another eyewitness said: “It was a rain of bullets at UGA Roundabout, Aguata LGA this evening( Thursday) around 5:50 pm as UGM came in their terrific numbers from Umuchu – Umunze road, all carrying AK47 Assault Rifles and kidnapping people at random in flashy cars.
“They were not in a hurry to go and remained for long unchallenged. When they sighted a group of policemen coming up from the Ezinifite axis, they opened fire and gunned down two of them.
“Very sad. People were seen screaming, running, and scampering away for their dear lives as the gunshots were deafening and frightening.
“Bullets from their AK 47 shattered the windows of CAPAD Filling Station but apart from the killing of the policemen, there were no injuries recorded therein.
“Anambra State remains a target zone for hoodlums coming from neighbouring states and elsewhere.
“We call on all to be cautious and security conscious while we pray for those officers on duty who regrettably lost their lives in this needless carnage at the time of our yearly Christmas festivities.”
Anambra state police public relations officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident
However, he said the information available to the command about the incident was sketchy.
He said: “The information is still sketchy, as soon as we get the details an official statement shall be released by the command, please.”
