A bank security guard have been shot dead by armed men said to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra during a shootout with the police operatives at Nkwo Market, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to The PUNCH, the armed men came out in large numbers on a motorbike and started shooting sporadically in an attempt to rob a bank and to enforce a sit-at-home order announced by a faction of IPOB.
The state police spokesman, in a statement on Wednesday DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the hoodlums attempted to disrupt commercial activities and vehicular movement going on in Ihiala until a joint operative of police and other security forces responded swiftly and thwarted their move.
Ikenga said, “Following the improved operational and strategic positioning of men of the command, the joint security forces comprising of the Police and Military at about 12:30 pm on Tuesday dispersed illegal sit-at-home enforcers from the proscribed IPOB group and Eastern Security Network ESN in Nkwo market, Ihiala.
“The joint operatives responded swiftly which made the armed men abandon their plans and took to their heels. Unfortunately, due to the indiscriminate shootings by the armed group, a stray bullet hit the chief security officer of the bank on the leg and he has been taken to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. No life was lost.
“Meanwhile, calm has returned in the area as Police with other security forces have intensified patrols, and improved security dominance and surveillance in the state.”
