Maduako Igbokwe l Thursday, May 24, 2021
ONITSHA, Nigeria – No less than four persons were killed and two arrested as gunmen attacked the Anambra state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and Police B’Division in Awka, the State capital on Sunday night.
An insider who confided in our reporter said that attackers came with three Hilux vans and burnt seven operational Toyota Hilux vans belonging INEC, collation centre and store containing over 100 generating sets and others.
The source said the assailants failed in their attack of B, Division before proceeding to INEC office in Awka where they met stiffer resistance. The sources said four attackers were killed during exchanged of fire ,while about two of the assailants were capture alive .
“We were shooting them and bullets were not entering their bodies and they were also shooting us and their bullets were not entering our own bodies , on noticing this ,they started running and four persons were gunned down and two others were arrested ” the source said .
According to the sources the attack lasted for about one hour with gunshots and police finally subdued them. “They shot for more than 30 minutes at B-Division before leaving. They then stopped at Ekwueme Square and shot for about 10 minutes before proceeding to the INEC Office where we battled them for about one hour and subdued them “the source said .
Our reporter who visited the INEC office on Monday morning found out that three Toyota Hilux vans by the attackers were abandoned. The collation centre and store containing over 100 generating sets and other were burnt down by the attackers who gained access into compound through backyard of INEC .
During the visit , our reporter saw bullets holes on the wall of the INEC office and some of the three abandoned vehicles and blood stain on the roads in front of INEC office .
Our reporter also gathered that over 12 guns , including AK47 and pump action with various bullets , Barret caps and charms were recovered from the attackers . The Anambra State police commissioner, CP Chris Owolabi who latter visited the INEC office to inspect the affected facility said the police registered over 98 percent success in combating the attackers. He said that the three Hilux vans used by the attackers were abandoned after police operatives matched them with greater fire power.
“The hoodlums first went to “B” division police station and were repelled, then they came to INEC and our men repelled them too. I can tell you that we recorded about 98 percent success. There were no casualties on the part of the police. I want to appeal to journalists to report carefully because we read where people reported that scores of policemen were killed.
“Since last night, we have been moving from hospital to hospital, because we are sure some of the attackers escaped with serious wound. We are appealing to hospital management to help us track them.
I want to plead with Anambra people to go about their legal activities. Twelve riffles consisting of AK 47 and pump action were recovered from the attackers, including live ammunitions ,charms and items of clothing and barrets” he said .
