Four individuals were killed in a bombing that took place at the Ihiala Local Government Area office in the state of Anambra.
The event happened on Thursday morning at approximately one, according to reports, gunmen initially engaged the neighborhood watchman guarding the secretariat in a gunfight. Three of the vigilante guys and one of the hoodlums were claimed to have died during the shoot-out, according to a source in the neighborhood who characterized the exchange of fire as heavy.
The source further said that the thugs then wreaked havoc on nearby establishments.
“They set fire to many of the buildings at the secretariat, including the administrative block, Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC], Health office building, Youth Corpers [NYSC] office, Education Office and National Civil Defense Office.
“The gunmen came from Imo State near the border from Orlu. Unfortunately, security authorities arrived shortly after they left,” the source said.
Tochukwu Ikenga, a police spokesperson, confirmed the event and stated that one of the thugs and three on-duty vigilantes were slain, and one of them was beheaded.
He also said that while joint operations were occurring, five buildings had been set on fire by IEDs and petrol bombs.
He said: “Following the Police/Military operations ongoing in Ihaila and its neighboring town, the Operatives responding to a distress call at about 2:55 a.m. today, December 1, 2023, of an attack on Ihiala local government headquarters, neutralized one of the attackers, recovered two locally made IED lunchers, seven undenoted IED, forty pieces of live cartridges, fifteen live 7.62MM Ak47 ammunition, knives, charms.
“The attackers had already killed three on-duty vigilante operators, decapitated one, and ignited five buildings with IEDs and petrol bombs,” the report stated. While several of the arsonists/attackers were wounded by gunfire, the combined force operators engaged them and prevented them from doing more damage.
