Okey Maduforo, Awka
At least five persons were said to have been injured at Uli close to the Campus of Anambra State University when a combined team of soldiers and Policemen clashed with unidentified gunmen in the area.
It was gathered that the gunmen had robbed a Point Of Sales POS operator in the area the sum of N800,000.00 before they started shooting indiscriminately which led to a stamped in the area.
On getting wind of the incident the Anambra Joint Task Force on Security made up of Police, Army and other sister security organizations moved swiftly and engaged the gunmen in a gun battle which made the hoodlums flee the area.
Though it is yet to be confirmed if there were deaths recorded it was gathered that at least five to seven persons sustained various degrees of injury while the manhunt for the gunmen continues.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga in a release he said that no casualties were recorded adding that security operatives repelled the hoodlums.
“Anambra State Police Command Operatives have repelled and dispersed armed criminal elements, reported to have shot sporadically at Uli community, within the precinct of the Uli Campus of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. The Operatives are on the trail of the hoodlums.”
“Consequently, more operatives, operational, and intelligence resources of the command have been further deployed to the area to reinforce the security of the university and its environs.”
“Credible information from eyewitnesses reveals that the gunmen started shooting indiscriminately and unprovoked, thereby causing fear among law-abiding citizens of the community. However, no casualties were recorded, and order has been fully restored in the area”
“Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and administration and the Command’s acting Commissioner of Police, *DCP Fidelis Ogarabe, psc, mnips*, has ordered the operatives to ensure that criminal elements are fished out”.
“He reiterates the unwavering commitment of the command to maintain law and order, as well as the security and safety of residents of the community and State in general”
” Nonetheless, members of the public are advised to call the Command Control Room on 07039194332 or the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on 08039334002 in the event of any distress. They can also use the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’, usable on Android and Apple iOS phones, to make reports” he said.
