Gunmen open fire at meeting venue in Anambra, 19 reportedly dead

Gunmen operating in two sports utility vehicles on Monday evening killed 19 people in Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The men were said to have arrived a meeting venue where some people said to be indigenes of Ebonyi State were meeting and opened fire on them.

It is, however, not clear the motive of the attack but some people said it may be a renewed enforcement of the already prescribed sit at home protest as it happened on Monday, others said it may be related to a disagreement within the group as the gunmen had requested for minutes of the meeting.

A gory video of the incident circulating on the social media showed a scene where several corpses were lying on the ground, with people wailing.

Meanwhile, police authorities in Anambra State have confirmed the incident, insisting that only 10 persons were killed, while nine others were injured.

A press release by the Anambra State Police Command, signed by its public relations officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the command condemned the shooting incident.

He said it resulted in fatal injuries and fatalities to 10 persons and assured that the command will hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

He said: “The armed criminals came in two Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) and attacked the gathering of a group unprovoked, shooting sporadically.

“The victims were rushed to the Hospital and regrettably, 10 (ten) people were confirmed dead. The bodies have been deposited in the morgue.”

He said the Police, led by a security team, has taken over the scene and are working on necessary information to arrest the perpetrators.