By Tony Oraeki, Awka
Palpable tension has engulfed communities in Anambra and Imo state as security operatives yesterday killed no fewer than ten persons enforcing the weekly sit at home order.
Our correspondent reports that Anambra State Police Command on Monday neutralized two gunmen that were enforcing the sit-at-home order.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, who disclosed this in a statement in Awka, said the incident happened along Umunze Road in Orumba South Local Government Area of the state.
According to the statement, “The Anambra State Command Operatives on crime prevention patrol in the early hours of today 16/5/2022 along Umunze road, Orumba South LGA, engaged armed bearing gunmen allegedly enforcing sit – at – home in Anambra State.
“The Operatives neutralized two of the miscreants and recovered a white Toyota Hiace Bus with no registration number.
“Further details show that these miscreants were obstructing the movement of innocent road users going for their businesses. The hoodlums forcefully collected their motorbikes and tricycles, chased away the passengers and set them ablaze.
Meanwhile, the Command operatives have intensified patrol within the state and the situation is being monitored.
In the same vein, troops of the Nigerian army yesterday killed 2 unknown Gunmen who attacked Federal Housing Gate Military Post, Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra state.
The hoodlums arrived at the Military post around 10pm with a white hilux vehicle.
It was gathered that when they arrived, they first parked at the GTime Fuel station that is close to Soprom Hotel opposite the Military post.
According to an eyewitness, they were on police bulletproof vests and that made the soldiers on duty to mistake them as real Policemen.
The eyewitness said, “They stayed in their car briefly before opening fire on the military men.
“As the almighty God may want it, the military men returned fire on them as if they had been expecting such an attack.
“As well trained soldiers, the military men took cover and engaged the unknown gunmen in exchange of fire for over 30 minutes”, the source disclosed.
When contacted, the state police Spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu told journalists that he has not been briefed about the incident.
Meanwhile, six suspected members of the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) have been killed in a bloody gun duel with the police.
They were killed when they attempted to burn down the Palace of Imo Chairman Council Of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze Dr E. C Okeke at Orlu Local Government Area.
The incident which took place on Monday around 8am occurred when the hoodlums in their numbers were sighted in three Hilux vehicles shooting sporadically, fiercely advancing towards the Eze’s Palace to unleash mayhem.
Confirming the incident, police spokesman CSP Michael Abattam, said on receipt of the information, the Command’s Tactical Team joined by the military immediately mobilized and rushed to the palace.
He said, “On their way, the hoodlums on sighting the combined team engaged them in a gun duel, throwing petrol bombs. The gallant team responded, positioning themselves professionally.”
“In the exchange of gunfire that ensued, the hoodlums were overwhelmed due to the superior fire-power of the combined team and in the process, six of the hoodlums were neutralized while others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries”, he added.
