A policeman and one operative of the Anambra Vigilante Group have sustained varying degrees of injuries during a gun battle with some yet-to-be-identified assailants at a police checkpoint in the Ajali community, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
It was gathered that the armed men opened fire on the police operatives when they discovered that they had been trailed towards the checkpoint after they had allegedly snatched a vehicle ando other items from some members of the public.
The incident, which according to eyewitnesses in the area occurred late on Thursday, caused panic in the community due to the several gunshots that ensued for several minutes.
Although no life was lost, eyewitnesses said during the incident, two operational vehicles of the security operatives were burnt by the hoodlums.
One of the eyewitnesses, a resident of the area who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “The incident occurred along the Umuchu-Amesi-Uga Road. The armed hoodlums boldly came down from their vehicle and began exchanging gunfire with the security men when they discovered that they were been trailed.
“In the process, they burnt two security vehicles belonging to the Umuchu vigilante; the hoodlums had earlier burnt one vehicle in the area, making it three within almost a week.
“During the fierce gun battle, some of the security operatives sustained bullet injuries. But the local vigilante operatives fought back, which led to the unknown gunmen abandoning their Toyota Hilux vehicle and escaped because one of the police officers fired and deflated the tyre.
“The recent activities of the hoodlums have created concerns over the safety of residents of the area, especially as Christmas is fast approaching. The latest attack was among the many in recent times.”
The Anambra State Police Command Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, said the injured security personnel were rushed to the hospital, where they are receiving treatment.
Ikenga said the gunmen were trailed after police operatives resisted an attack on a police checkpoint at Ajali, Orumba North LGA.
Ikenga said, “In the late hours of Thursday, December 5, 2024, the Anambra State Joint Security Team intercepted armed men sighted on Umuchu-Amesi-Uga Road and recovered one branded blue Hilux vehicle with plate number GDD 440 TJ, a car suspected to have been snatched from an unsuspecting member of the public.
“During a search conducted in the vehicle, coolers for food preservation were found.
“The armed men were trailed after police operatives resisted an attack on a police checkpoint at Ajali, Orumba North Local Government Area.
“During the gun duel, one police personnel and one AVG operative sustained gunshot injuries and are currently responding to treatment in a hospital.
“Unfortunately, the two operational vehicles belonging to the AVG were caught up in fire and razed down completely.”
He said joint operations are still ongoing in the area, and further developments would be communicated to the public.
