Gunmen Strike Again, Burn Ogbaru Local Government Secretariat in Second Attack Within 3 Months.
In the early hours of Friday, August 30, 2024, gunmen launched a devastating attack on the Ogbaru Local Government Secretariat in Anambra State, setting multiple buildings ablaze. The assailants targeted various administrative facilities, including a town hall designated for traditional rulers, in what marks the second attack on the secretariat in just three months.
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The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, revealing that a large group of armed men stormed the secretariat and wreaked havoc before being met by security forces. SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the state police command, noted the gallantry of the security operatives in resisting the attackers, which ultimately prevented further destruction. “Some LGA properties were destroyed, some buildings were affected, and no life was lost as joint security operations are still ongoing,” Ikenga stated.
Witnesses reported that the attack began around 5 a.m. when approximately 30 gunmen emerged from nearby bushes, chanting as they approached the secretariat. The attackers fired shots indiscriminately into the air, causing widespread panic among local residents.
“They moved from their hideouts to the nearby Atani Magistrate Court and began setting buildings within the council premises on fire, including the main secretariat and the traditional rulers’ structures,” one witness recounted. As the gunmen attempted to ignite additional buildings, security forces arrived and engaged them in a firefight, forcing the attackers to retreat into the bushes.
The latest attack comes on the heels of several violent incidents in the area. Just a day prior, a security guard named CY succumbed to bullet wounds sustained during a gun battle in the Amiyi community. Earlier in the month, on August 5, two young men were killed by the same group of gunmen, and five days ago, a retired policeman was beaten to death by the assailants.
This is not the first time the Ogbaru Local Government Secretariat has come under attack. On June 15, 2024, suspected arsonists targeted the same location, setting four security vehicles ablaze. In that instance, the attackers arrived at the local government headquarters on motorcycles, leaving destruction in their wake.
The recurring violence in Ogbaru has heightened tensions in the community, with residents calling for increased security measures to protect lives and properties. As joint security operations continue, the Anambra State government and law enforcement agencies are under pressure to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore peace to the troubled region.
