Unidentified gunmen carried out an attack on the secretariat of the Ihiala Local Government Area [LGA] in Anambra state in the early hours of today, January 12, killing three persons

Residents of the area say the attackers first engaged the vigilante men who were securing the secretariat in a gun duel, resulting in the death of three vigilante men and the death of one of the gunmen.

According to the residents, the assailants set fire on many of the buildings in the secretariat including the LGA administrative block, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office, the Health office building, the Youth Corpers (NYSC) office, the Education Office was completely burnt, and the National Civil Defense Office was burnt.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said items recovered from the scene include two locally made IED launcher, seven undenoted IED, forty pieces of live cartridges, fifteen live 7.62MM Ak47 ammunition, knives, charms, and other dangerous weapons. 

”The attackers had already murdered, three vigilante operatives on duty, beheaded one and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs. The joint force operatives engaged the arsonist/attackers, and obstructed them from causing further damages, while some escaped with bullet wounds.

The bodies of the victims were recovered and joint operations are still ongoing. Further development shall be communicated” he said