Unknown gunmen have carried out a deadly attack in the Njaba area of Imo State, resulting in the deaths of three vigilantes and a teenager.
According to Sahara Reporters, the incident took place on Sunday evening when the gunmen ambushed a vehicle belonging to a local vigilante group that was on security patrol within the community.
According to an eyewitness account, the vigilantes were attacked by the gunmen near Afor Umuaka in Njaba while they were carrying out their routine patrol duties.
The assailants set up an ambush and opened fire on the security personnel, leading to the deaths of three vigilantes and the innocent teenager who was caught in the crossfire.
“The gunmen overtook the community security Toyota Sienna the security men were patrolling with and shot them dead,” the source said.
Security in Imo State has been a growing concern due to the increasing frequency of attacks by gunmen in various communities.
The brazen attack on the vigilantes highlights the dangers faced by those tasked with maintaining peace and security in the region.
Confirming the tragic incident, Henry Okoye, the spokesperson for the state police command, stated that a tactical squad has been deployed to track down and apprehend the attackers responsible for the senseless killings.
“The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has strongly condemned the attack and gruesome murder of the vigilante personnel of the Umuaka Autonomous Community by gunmen on Sunday evening, 7/07/2024.
“In the wake of the tragic incident that claimed the lives of three gallant vigilantes who were on routine crime prevention patrol and a passerby, the Commissioner of Police has deployed the Command’s Tactical Squad with the available operational resources to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the dastardly act.”
The authorities are working diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of safety and security to the community.
The loss of three vigilantes and a teenager in the ambush has sent shockwaves through the community, leaving residents in mourning and heightened fear.