The Anambra State Police Command has vowed to arrest the killers of 13 Ebonyi State natives in Ogboji community in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State.
The victims were holding their regular monthly meeting on Monday when a gang of hoodlums stormed their meeting venue and opened fire on them, killing about 13 of them and injuring some others
The Spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident, however, said only 10 persons were killed.
He said that the Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has condemned the incident and ordered that the scene of the incident be condoned off, and ordered a manhunt for the perpetrators of the heinous act.
According to the State Police Command’s spokesperson, “The armed criminals came in two Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and attacked the gathering of a group unprovokedly, shooting sporadically.
“The victims were rushed to the hospital and regrettably, 10 (ten) people were confirmed dead.
“The bodies have been deposited in the morgue.
“Meanwhile, the Police-led security team has taken over the scene and are working on necessary information to arrest the preparators,” SP Ikenga stated further in a statement he issued on Tuesday evening.
But, the chairman of the Ebonyi community in Anambra State, Mr. Augustine Odom, who narrated the incident, said 13 of their members were killed while two other members sustained severe bullet injuries during the attack.
He said, “They collected our minutes book, ordered everyone to lie down, and then asked the chairman (me) to stand. Moments later, they started shooting us. Thirteen of our members were killed on the spot. The treasurer and I survived with gunshot wounds,” he added.
Odom added that those killed were from various communities in Ebonyi State, including Izzi, Ikwo, and Mgbo and other villages.
The two survivors he said are currently receiving treatment at a medical facility in the area.
He expressed deep shock over the incident, stating that they had no known disputes with any individual or group prior to the attack.
“We have no issues with anyone. We are law-abiding residents who simply gathered to support one another,” Odom added.
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