Matthew Onocheta
AWKA, Nigeria – At least six persons have been gunned down by hoodlums, suspected to be cultists in Nigeria’s southeastern Anambra State.
The assailants reportedly invaded Ifite-Awka, near the school gate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, in the early hours of Thursday and opened fire on some persons, suspected to be members of another rival cult group, thereby causing chaos and panic in the area.
“Over six persons were shot dead near Witness Garden, Ifite Amansea Road. The hoodlums invaded the area at about 9:30am today and started shooting at some persons suspected to be members of a cult group,” a source told local news outlet The Punch. “One of our lecturers coming to school had to go back. She called me saying she saw seven lying persons lying dead.”
Anambra State Police Command’s spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident, saying: “The Police responding team has taken over the scene of indiscriminate shooting today 24/10/2024 by 9:15 am at Ifite, behind Unizik gate, Awka by suspected gunmen.
“Preliminary information showed that the armed men unprovoked started shooting sporadically and some bullets fatally hit four persons in the area and were rushed to the hospital for aid by the police operatives. Also, some empty shells of bullets have been recovered at the scene.
“Meanwhile operations are ongoing in the area and further details shall be communicated, please.”