IN ANAMBRA, GUNMEN KILL THREE VIGILANTES AND A SECURITY GUARD BEFORE TORCHING FIVE LG BUILDINGS.

Barely three days after four people were killed and dumped near Ihiala’s popular Nkwo Ogbe market, gunmen killed three members of the community’s vigilante group and a member of the joint military/police patrol team on Thursday.

In addition, the attackers set fire to five buildings at the headquarters of the Ihiala local government area.

One of the murdered vigilante operatives was beheaded and his head was removed by the attackers.

The incident sparked chaos throughout the entire local government area, resulting in gridlock on the Onitsha-Owerri road.

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident and stated that a heavy operation is underway in the area.

Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, the state Police Public Relations Officer, said in a statement: “Following the ongoing Police/Military operations in Ihiala and its neighboring town, the operatives responding to a distress call of an attack on Ihiala local government headquarters, neutralized one of the attackers, recovered two locally made IED luncher, seven undetonated IED, forty pieces of live cartridges, fifteen live 7.62MM Ak47

“The attackers had already murdered three vigilante operatives on duty, beheaded one and set five buildings ablaze with IED and petrol bombs.

“The joint force operatives engaged the arsonist/attackers and prevented them from causing further damage, while some escaped with bullet wounds.

“The bodies of the victims have been recovered, and joint operations are still ongoing. Please keep me updated on future developments.”