By Our Reporter
No fewer than 19 persons were allegedly killed early hours of Monday when unknown gunmen invaded Ukpomachi Village, Awkuzu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The South-East Zonal Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Gidado Siddiki disclosed this in a telephone interview with Ikengaonline.
Siddiki said that the incident happened at about 2am when the hoodlums invaded the area.
He said that the victims from three different families where from the northern part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Anambra Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Ikenga Tochukwu has confirmed the attack by the hoodlums.
Tochukwu said in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka that nine persons lost their lives during the incident.
The PPRO, however, said that the identities of the victims had yet to be confirmed, adding that investigation was ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack.
He said that the assailants were armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons when they invaded the village.
Tochukwu said that several other residents of the village were injured, buildings destroyed and livestock killed during the attack.
He appealed to the people of the area to remain calm as a large number of policemen had been deployed to the area to restore normalcy.
“The Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Kuryas has ordered the immediate deployment of the command’s operational and intelligence assets to identify and apprehend the hoodlums,” Tochukwu said .
