Gunmen in the early hours of Thursday attacked and killed four operatives of the Anambra Vigilante Services and bombed the headquarters of Ihiala Local Government Area.
It was gathered that the incident happened at 2 am on Thursday, January 12.
According to a source in the area, the gunmen after attacking and killing the vigilante operatives at the local government secretariat, they beheaded one of them.
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The source added that the gunmen also threw Improvised Explosive into the council head quarters destroying properties.
It was said that about 5 building in the area were destroyed.
The reason for the attack could not be ascertained but the state police spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident.
Ikenga said police operatives were alerted and when they arrived at the scene, one of the gunmen was killed by police operatives when they were confronted.
He said,
“Following the police/military operations ongoing in Ihiala and its neighbouring town, the operatives responding to a distress call at about 2:55 am, today 12/1/2023 of an attack on Ihiala local government headquarters.
“The police neutralized one of the attackers, recovered two locally made IED luncher, seven undenoted IEDs, 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, please.”
