the police in Anambra State They said they killed two gunmen enforcing the suspended sit-at-home order in Umunze, South Orumba Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Gunmen reportedly attacked some shopkeepers on Monday at a roundabout near the popular Nkwo Umunze market.
An area resident, Comfort Mokaogwu, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen set a motorcycle on fire and destroyed some property.
“The gunmen didn’t kill anyone,” he said.
A video clip shared in some WhatsApp groups showed several wheelbarrows full of rice, garri and beans, thrown to the ground by the gunmen.
The burned motorcycle was also captured on video, while a background voice in the clip blamed shopkeepers for ignoring the stay-at-home order.
Anambra police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen were later shot dead by police officers during a shootout.
He said police in the state have developed new strategies to address growing insecurity and track down gunmen terrorizing residents.
Ikenga said that some of the residents who were kidnapped by the armed men were released by the police.
He confirmed that the gunmen set fire to some motorcycles.
Ikenga said police were still patrolling the area.
Attacks by armed men have increased in the region in recent times.
Attacks often target security agencies and government facilities.
The latest incident occurs a few hours after arsonists razed the headquarters of the Local Government Council of Idemili Norte, a Justice of the Peace and a sub-headquarters of an electricity distribution company located within the Secretariat.
The Nigerian government has charged the outlaws Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the southeast. But the group has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks.
The separatist group is leading the agitation for the formation of an independent Biafra state from south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.
Kanu, leader of the group, is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, May 18, for the continuation of his trial.