AWKA, Nigeria – The Anambra State Police Command has appealed to proprietors of private hospitals and managers of public health facilities to assist in the arrest of fleeing gunmen, who escaped with bullet injuries after a confrontation with security operatives.
It was reported that on Monday, June 19, 2023, heavily armed gunmen ambushed the Anambra Vigilante Group, AVG, in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
However, the AVG managed to repel the attack, leading to the death of two gunmen and the recovery of two AK-47 rifles. The rest of the gunmen fled the scene with bullet injuries.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating that operatives have examined the scene and are collaborating with the AVG to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
Ikenga said, “From what our men were able to find out, the fleeing suspects sustained bullet injuries, and we are working with AVG operatives to ensure we track them down. We are only calling on operators of private hospitals and managers of public hospitals in the area to be alert and report people with bullet injuries when they come for treatment.”
Ikenga urged medical facilities not to turn away individuals presenting with bullet injuries but to admit them and alert the police.
This would allow law enforcement to investigate the source of the bullet injury.
According to a member of the AVG, about 15 gunmen, armed with AK-47 rifles and various charms, stormed the vigilante camp around 3.30am on Monday, Jjune 19, 2023.
Mistakenly assuming the AVG members were asleep, the gunmen opened fire.
The AVG member said, “They stepped into the lion’s den… let them continue coming, we are ready for them.”
