By Okey Maduforo
This week’s Monday Sit-at-Home order turned tragic in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, as three members of the Community Vigilante Services (AVS) were killed by gunmen early this morning.
In another incident, gunmen attacked Abatete Community in Idemili North Local Government Area, reportedly killing one person.
The assailants, after killing the three AVS members at Ukpo, set their operational vehicle ablaze and fled the scene. About seven people sustained injuries during the attack.
A man suspected to be the President General of Ukpo town and another vigilante personnel narrowly escaped death, sustaining gunshot wounds.
An eyewitness recounted that the gunmen stormed the Ukpo roundabout, shooting sporadically. Upon spotting a Sienna bus carrying AVS members, they opened fire, killing three of them on the spot.
According to the witness, “They came from nowhere, shooting sporadically and chanting, ‘No Biafra, No Freedom!’ People started running for safety.”
It remains unclear whether the suspected President General of Ukpo Community was deliberately targeted, but it is believed the AVS team might have been reporting to him when the incident occurred.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident. He added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ukpo Community is on ground to understudy the incident while awaiting his report.
Recall that Gov Charles Soludo had last two weeks ordered all markets in the state to open and not to obey the Sit At Home order by the gunmen which the traders at Ukpo complied with before the incident.
