By Cajetan Mmuta
Fiery gunmen with automatic riffles on Thursday stormed Governor Charles Soludo’s Aguata local government area in Anambra State where they burnt down the Secretariat complex at Ekwulobia town.
The heavily armed men were said to have shot sporadically into the air before setting the local government area on fire.
Besides, a young man identified as Chibueze Onyejefu, from Umueze Isuofia and kinsman of Governor Soludo was reportedly gunned down at Oko in Anambra State.
The gunmen collected the man’s car but later abandoned it elsewhere.
Other details of the attack were sketchy as at the time of this report
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the Secretariat complex in several motorbikes and commandeered a truck to stop and used it to block off the road.
They entered the secretariat and set every structure, shop, and vehicle on sight ablaze.
A source close to the Area, who refused to be named said most shops inside the council Secretariat were also burnt, including the main secretariat building, which houses several departments.
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The source, however, lamented that after the gunmen shot into the air for several minutes they escaped, before soldiers came in and started arrested Indigenes of the area.
According to him, “My house is just opposite the secretariat, we experienced everything that happened. Right now, I’m under my bed with my children, everyone is so afraid.
“We are not sure yet if there are casualties, but soldiers are already arresting youths of our community,” the source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state command DSP Ikenga Toochukwu confirmed the incident.
He said that operatives of the command were already on ground and have commenced close monitoring of the area.
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“We have also contacted the men of the Anambra Fire Service to put off the fire, and for now I can only say that details are still very sketchy.
“I can not talk to you about casualty figures now, that will be after we have secured the place,” he said.
Aguata Local Government Area is the home local government of the current governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
He had called for dialogue with all armed groups, and on Wednesday, he released 15 names of committee members who will spear head peace, both in Anambra and the south east.
