Suspected attackers of Ubah nabbed as gunmen raze shops, vehicles in Anambra

From Obinna Odogwu, Awka

Gunmen have reportedly attacked Amorka community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, razing shops numbering about 15 and some vehicles. It was not clear what caused the ugly incident. Sources said that the hoodlums operated in the town for hours, destroying vehicles, burning shops and other valuables.

Their gunfire, it was gathered, sparked pandemonium as residents and other persons in that environment ran helter-skelter, seeking refuge. That incident also caused a gridlock that extended to Mgbidi and Awo-omamma in Imo State.

Available reports indicated that hoodlums, in the midst of that confusion, looted several shops in that area. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, could not be reached for comments but sources said that the Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, had dispatched policemen to the area.

Meanwhile, some of the gunmen who attacked the convoy of the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ifeanyi Ubah, have been arrested. This was disclosed by the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, in Enugwu-Ukwu community, Njikoka LGA during the burial of Pa Boniface Nwankwo, father of Dozie Nwankwo who represents Anaocha/Njikoka/Dunukofia Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.

Incidentally, it was in the same Enugwu-Ukwu that the attack took place about a month ago. The senator, Ubah, who escaped in a bullet proof car, unfortunately lost some of his security aides and two personal assistants during the attack. The governor also told his audience that security operatives were on the trail of the other suspects. He assured that all of them must be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Three weeks ago, it was in this same community that some elements chose to attack Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. I want to tell you that we have arrested a number of those involved in that attack. We are still on the trail of the remaining people.

“We will not let people like that define who we are. This is Anambra State, and we are peaceful people. We must embrace peace, even in the coming election. Anambra is peaceful, Anambra is safe.

“We have chased away bad elements in the state. The pockets of crime you hear of are just a small number of the bad elements left. They will not disappear in one night. Even in civilised places, they are still a few bad elements,” Soludo said.