Tension gripped communities in Anambra Central Senatorial Zone on Monday morning following violent attacks by gunmen believed to be enforcing the banned sit-at-home order.
OsunDailyNG gathered that between 8am and 10am, gunmen launched attacks in Abatete, Abagana, and Ukpo, resulting in at least five deaths.
According to Daily Post, sources confirmed that most of the casualties were members of the Anambra Vigilante Service.
The first assault took place in Abatete, where gunmen targeted security personnel assigned to the town’s President-General (PG).
Three vigilantes were killed in the ambush, and the PG sustained serious injuries, requiring immediate hospitalization.
Separate attacks were later reported in Abagana and Ukpo. At the Ukpo roundabout in Dunukofia Local Government Area, a member of the Vigilante Group and a motorcycle rider were killed in an indiscriminate shooting spree.
Residents in nearby communities are now in fear, with panic spreading across Anambra Central. A voice note circulating on social media warned people in the state capital, Awka, to remain indoors due to the proximity of the attacks.
A local from Abatete expressed: “We are praying for the recovery of our PG. This senseless violence has left our community shaken.”
Another member of the Ukpo community stated on Facebook: “It was chaos. The attackers came out of nowhere, shooting indiscriminately. Shouting no Biafra, no freedom. We are still trying to process what happened.”
When contacted, the Anambra State police spokesperson confirmed that details were still unclear but assured that police teams were already on the ground investigating the incidents.
