No fewer than four patrol vehicles belonging to a local vigilance group were set ablaze after gunmen attacked Ogbaru Local Government Secretariat in Anambra State.

It was gathered that the gunmen arrived at the secretariat in large numbers in motorcycles and one vehicle, shooting sporadically in the early hours of Saturday, June 15, 2024.

It was learnt that an attempt by the vigilantes to repel the gunmen got a boost, following the quick response by a team of crack police operatives.

Confirming the incident via a statement, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the gunmen fled the scene when they were overpowered.

Ikenga noted that the assailants faced strong resistance from the vigilante operatives until the police response team arrived.

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“Due to the superior firepower of the security operatives, the gunmen fled the scene,” he added.

The police spokesman, however, lamented that the assailants succeeded in setting four operational vehicles belonging to the vigilantes ablaze before escaping.

He quoted the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, as condemning the attack and destruction of the patrol vehicles.

Itam commended the efforts of the operatives in repelling the gunmen and described the incident as an “act of cowardice”.

He stated that a joint security force, comprising the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, and other security agencies, had been deployed to the area to fish out the assailants.

He added that no lives were lost and gave assurance that the security agencies were poised to strengthen security in the area for the safety of lives and property of the residents.

The Star