ORUMBA SOUTH, Nigeria — A deadly gun attack during a town union meeting in Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has left at least 10 people dead, with conflicting reports placing the toll even higher.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the victims, who were mostly of Ebonyi State origin, had gathered on Monday, June 30, 2025, for their monthly town union meeting when unknown gunmen stormed the venue and opened fire at close range.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, Tochukwu Ikenga, spokesperson for the Anambra police, confirmed that 10 people were killed in what he described as an unprovoked assault.
“The victims were rushed to the hospital and regrettably, 10 (ten) people were confirmed dead,” Ikenga said.
“The bodies have been deposited in the morgue. Meanwhile, the police-led security team has taken over the scene and are working on necessary information to arrest the perpetrators.”
Eyewitnesses said the attackers arrived in two black sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and began shooting indiscriminately, causing panic and chaos among the attendees.
The Ebonyi State Government has disputed the police casualty figure, stating that 13 indigenes from the state lost their lives in the incident.
The discrepancy has heightened concerns and calls for clarity.
Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State, has urged Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo to launch a swift and thorough investigation into the killings.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, Nwifuru condemned the attack and called for restraint from Ebonyi citizens, urging them to avoid reprisal actions.
“Such barbarism has no place in modernity and state arsenals will be deployed to unmask the perpetrators of the bloody killings,” Nwifuru said.
“The administration in Ebonyi State remains committed to protecting the lives and property of Ebonyi people both at home and in the diaspora.”
Security has been heightened in the Ogboji area, with joint patrols by the police and local vigilante groups. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests, and the motive for the attack remains unclear.
