Maduako Igbokwe, Onitdha
ONITSHA, Anambra – Unidentified gunmen on Sunday night allegedly killed two soldiers in a shootout at 3-3 Estate, Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha, Anambra State capital.
A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the gunmen shot dead two soldiers during the encounter.
According to the resident, the shooting which started at about 10pm, lasted for hours. We gathered that the incident threw the neighbourhood into panic as a result of the sporadic gunshots.
“It is true. Yesterday night at the housing estate gate, gunmen attacked the military men securing us around 10pm. The attack lasted three hours. Two soldiers were killed,” the source said.
We learnt that the gunmen also attacked the Government Reserved Area (GRA) in Onitsha, where they also shot intermittently. In another development, suspected arsonists burnt down the Idemili North Local Government secretariat in Ogidi and a Magistrate Court in the area.
A source said the arsonists entered the premises on Sunday night, burning files and other items in the secretariat before setting the building ablaze.
Videos and pictures circulating online also showed the burnt building, while vehicles parked inside the local government secretariat were set on fire.
The State Police Command confirmed the development, attributing it to unidentified arsonists.
The spokesperson of command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga said: “Our men have been drafted there to restore normalcy. Right now, the fire has been put off, and calm has been restored to the area”.
