Southeast Governor Imposes Indefinite Curfew After Armed Group Killed 9 Persons

Willie Obiano, Anambra state governor, Southeast Nigeria, has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in parts of the state to prevent breakdown of law and order after an armed group  attacked Ukpomachi village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government of the state and killed some residents.

The assailants also injured an unspecified number of residents, destroyed buildings and livestock during the attack.

Students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University who lived in hostels within the vicinity have fled their apartments for fear of reprisal attack or degeneration of the situation.

Obiano made the pronouncement in a statement signed by Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to the State Government.

According to the governor, the areas affected  were Igbariam, Aguleri, Umueri, Nteje, Awkuzu and Umunya Communities in Oyi and Anambra East Local Government Areas.

The statement said the curfew was effective from Monday April 26 and would run between  7 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily, until further notice. 

The statement advised Anambra residents living in the affected communities to obey the curfew order,  warning that security forces  were on strict orders to enforce the curfew.

Tochwukwu Ikenga, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra said nine persons whose identities were yet to be known were killed in the attack which occurred in the early hours of Monday.

Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Monday Bala Kuryas, has ordered the immediate deployment of the Command’s Operational and Intelligence assets to identify and apprehend the unknown attackers.

“A crack team of police operatives of the command, led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, has visited the scene and conducted on the spot assessment of the incidence and has successfully restored normalcy in the area and adequate security put in to forestall further occurrence.”

The assailants, said to be armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons,  invaded the village in their numbers and attacked the residents, resulting in the death of nine persons whose identities are yet unknown.

But the leader of Fulani in Anambra, Gidado Siddiki claimed the attack was on his people living in the community.

Siddiki who is the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) Southeast zone claimed that more people were killed including 23 cows.

He, however, appealed to his members not to react but to allow the police and other security agencies to do their work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the ungodly attacks.