Anambra State Police command has reacted to the viral video which showed gunmen in a Hilux and SUV filled with corpses in Ihiala, Anambra State.
While there are several reports about the viral video, however, it was gathered the incident took place during a burial ceremony in the Ihiala area of the state on Friday.
According to reports, two rival gunmen terrorising Okija, Ozoubulu, Oraifite, Ukpor and Iseke, who were said to be responsible for several killings and abductions outside the ones carried out by Fulani militias, had stormed the burial ceremony on the claims that they were not ‘settled’ (given money before the event).
The unknown gunmen were however ambushed by the Ihiala security outfit, already stationed in and around the burial area.
In the ensuing gun battle, so many casualties were reportedly recorded on the part of the gunmen.
“They started shooting without knowing that security men had been stationed at all the entrances. So they took the battle to them in all directions, and there was no way to escape. There were mass casualties against the unknown gunmen,” a voice in the video was heard saying.
Confirming the incident, the Spokesman for the Anambra Police Command, Tochukwu, said the police were not involved, adding that the two groups were criminal gangs that had been terrorising the state.
The PPRO said, “The information is that two rival criminal gangs were fighting. Of course, recently the state has been having security problems, especially as it regards attacks on ceremonies and government infrastructure. And our men were deployed and we are strategically involving strategy to address these security issues as they emerge.
“So what happened yesterday (Friday) according to information before me is that two rivalry criminal gangs had a clash in Ihiala which resulted in one of them neutralising the gang leader of another, popularly known as “Double Lion” who held a group called “Lion group” that has been terrorising the state.
“According to eyewitnesses, the shooting was between the lion group and another group he didn’t mention their name, and before our men got there, the groups had already left the scene, and the lion group had made away with the corpse of their leader.”
“But the situation is under control now because our men have been intensively doing patrol there to ensure peace. There is no arrest made so far,” he added.
