Two persons were feared killed and some others injured when local security operatives and policemen engaged in a gun duel that lasted several minutes. In Anambra State on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened at the Izuchukwu Junction, Nnobi/Nnewi Road.
Some eyewitnesses in the area said a vehicle also caught fire when bullets hit the fuel tank during the incident, thereby further creating panic within the area.
One of the sources said, “The incident happened last night (Wednesday). We just saw security operatives engaging oen another in a gun battle and during the incident, two passers-by were hit by bullets.
No one knew the cause of the incident as people scampered to safety. Even, a vehicle was burnt down when bullets hit the fuel tank.”
The incident was also corroborated in some videos circulating online where some voices narrated what transpired.
The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, when contacted on the development on Thursday, confirmed the incident.
Ikenga said the local security forces took the police operatives for “unfriendly forces” and opened fire on them, thereby leading to the gun duel.
He said, “The command is aware of the shooting incident that took place at Izuchukwu junction, Nnobi/Nnewi road by 7 pm on Wednesday 20/11/2024 where security operatives mistook the police operatives as unfriendly forces and opened fire at them.
“However, the command wishes to emphasise that the attack on the operatives was not from non-state actors or any attempt to disrupt the burial of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
“Preliminary information showed that security operatives on investigation trailed a suspect to a security checkpoint before the gun duel ensued.
Unfortunately, bullets hit the fuel tank of the Toyota Venza Sedan carrying the men, and it was razed down. Two innocent passers-by were injured and taken to hospital. The command sues for calm to allow for investigations into the incident.”
He urged Nnewi residents not to panic, saying that Joint Security Forces have been deployed to ensure Nnewi is calm throughout the burial ceremonies of the late senator.
(PUNCH)