Although the police did not specifically identify the victims, sources informed PREMIUM TIMES that the victims were herders residing at the settlement.
At least four people – believed to be herders – were killed on Tuesday morning when gunmen invaded a residential settlement in the outskirts of Agu-Ifite Awka, a community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday evening.
Mr Ikenga, a superintendent, said the gunmen also razed about two huts within the settlement, slaughtered four cows and other cattle during the attack.
“Operatives of the Police-led Joint Security team responded to the scene following a distress report. On arrival, four male victims with fatal injuries were discovered.
“Preliminary observations revealed that the victims had their hands tied and sustained multiple injuries, including machete cuts and blunt force trauma,” he said.
The spokesperson said the police-led team which visited the scene also observed that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns, and machetes.
“The police further observed four dead cows within the vicinity, while two other cattle had been slaughtered, with portions of the meat removed by the assailants.
“Some sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat were recovered a short distance from the scene,” he stated.
Although the police spokesperson did not specifically identify the victims, sources informed PREMIUM TIMES that the victims were herders residing at the settlement.
Mr Ikenga said the police command has condemned the attack and also launched an investigation into the incident to track down the gunmen.
“One of the survivors of the attack escaped unharmed and is assisting the police- led joint security team with useful information in their investigation,” he added.
The spokesperson said the police command has commiserated with the families of those killed during the attack, assuring that the police in the state were committed to “conducting a thorough, professional, and intelligence-driven investigation” to ensure that the perpetrators were prosecuted.
The police command urged Anambra residents to remain calm and cooperate with the security operatives by providing “credible information” that may aid ongoing investigation.
“Further developments will be communicated as the investigation progresses,” he assured.
Like in other parts of Nigeria, killings and kidnap attacks have continued in the South-east in recent years.
No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been linked to some deadly attacks in the region although the separatist group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.
IPOB is a group seeking secession of the South-east and some parts of the South-south from Nigeria.
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