Two feared dead, several others injured as Vigilante members engage, Policemen in violent clash – Crime Channels
Two feared dead, several others injured as Vigilante members engage, Policemen in violent clash
A violent clash between local vigilante members and police officers at Izuchukwu Junction along the Nnobi/Nnewi Road on Wednesday night has reportedly claimed the lives of two with several people sustaining various degrees of injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gunfight sparked widespread panic, with a vehicle engulfed in flames after stray bullets struck its fuel tank.
One witness recalled, “It all happened around 7 PM on Wednesday. Suddenly, we saw security forces exchanging gunfire. Two bystanders were hit by stray bullets and collapsed, bleeding profusely.
“Chaos broke out as people fled in all directions, unsure of what was going on. A car caught fire when bullets pierced its fuel tank. Many feared it was an attack related to the upcoming burial of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, scheduled for later this week in Nnewi.”
The frightening scene was also captured in videos that circulated on social media, with narrations from witnesses providing further details of the violent incident.
Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, has however confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday morning, clarifying the cause of the altercation.
SP Ikenga’s statement reads: “The local vigilante mistook police operatives for hostile forces and opened fire, resulting in the gunfight.
“The Anambra State Police Command is aware of the shooting at Izuchukwu Junction, Nnobi/Nnewi Road, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, around 7 PM. The misunderstanding arose when local security forces mistook police personnel for unfriendly entities and attacked them.
“The altercation was not instigated by non-state actors nor aimed at disrupting the burial of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. Preliminary investigations reveal that security operatives were trailing a suspect to a checkpoint when the gun battle ensued.
“Sadly, stray bullets struck the fuel tank of a Toyota Venza Sedan, leading to its explosion. Two innocent passers-by sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital. The Command appeals for calm as investigations continue.”
