A 22-year-old newly-wedded bride (name withheld), who had her traditional marriage a week ago, was among those killed during the gunmen attack in Nnobi, Anambra State on Monday, PUNCH Metro gathered.
A family source who spoke to our correspondent who visited the town on the condition of anonymity on Tuesday said the victim, who was the only child of her parents, was waiting for her husband based overseas to return home before she was felled by the stray bullets of the assailants.
PUNCH Metro reports that some yet-to-be-identified assailants on Monday attacked Nnewi town in Nnewi North LGA and Nnobi in Idemili South LGA, killing a yet-to-be-identified number of persons, including some vigilante operatives, while several other persons were injured.
The situation created panic in both towns as traders and residents ran indoors while the assailants, suspected to be enforcers of the Monday sit-at-home shot sporadically into the air. Both Nnewi and Nnobi are neighbouring twons.
The source said, “Among those killed yesterday (Monday) at Nnobi was a relative of mine. She was a newly traditionally married bride of one week old, who was waiting for her husband based abroad to return. She was 22 years old and the only child of her parents.
“It was a heartbreaking incident and a heavy blow on the family yesterday (Monday). Her mum sent her to their farm to bring vegetables for the preparation of their food. On her way back home, she was hit by stray bullets during the gunfire between security officials and those dare-devil criminals.
“The hoodlums invaded the Nnobi community in a black Landcruiser jeep, and opened fire on some vigilante operatives, leaving two of the security operatives seriously injured. It is a serious concern that more than 24 hours after, no arrest has been made. We don’t understand why Igbo land has become a land for shedding of blood with all impunity.”
Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the police command and the vigilante service in the state had begun a hunt to fish out those who carried out the Monday attacks.
While reacting to the development in a statement on Tuesday, the Anambra State police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the police had ordered an immediate manhunt on the assailants based on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam.
Ikenga assured the people that the police would get justice for the heroic act of the murdered vigilante operative and others who were killed in the attack.
He said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, has ordered an immediate manhunt operation on the armed men operating in a red Highlander jeep, who abducted a citizen in Nnewi by 1:30 pm on Monday and were trailed to Nnobi, where they engaged security operatives in a gun battle.
(PUNCH)