By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has pledged relentless efforts to apprehend and bring to justice, the people responsible for the recent killings that occured at Ifite Awka, where no fewer than five people lost their lives and three others severely injured.
Recall that the incident, which occurred on October 24, 2024, has sparked off a chain of reactions and counter-reactions, with some people claiming that the attacks were ethnically and religiously targeted — a view already being widely peddled in a video that has gone viral on social media.
However, in his reaction through a statement and a counter-video issued to newsmen over weekend, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Ikenga Tochukwu; the police debunked the claims as false, and further maintained that there was no proof or evidence suggesting the attack was directed at any specific ethnic or religious group.
According to him, preliminary investigations show no ethnic or religious motive behind the attack, as the attackers opened fire and started shooting sporadically in an attempt to escape when police were alerted on the incident.
“To set the records straight, preliminary information reveals that the armed men started shooting sporadically in an attempt to escape when Police were alerted of their evil plan in the area,” he said.
Continuing, SP Ikenga assured the families of the victims and the public that the Command is fully committed to apprehending and bringing the perpetrators to justice. He recalled that past cases of similar attacks in the state have seen arrests and prosecution of the perpetrators, and further assured that the same determination would be applied to this case to hunt down the perpetrators of the recent killings.
“The Command, not wanting to join issues with anyone or group, remains committed to the ongoing operational patrols, improved security dominance and surveillance targeted to enhance safety and nip to the bud of such or any related incident in the State.
“While we commiserate with the families and friends of the victims assure that unlike other incidents recorded in the past and some of the miscreants involved were arrested and justice served, will not rest until the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to book,” he concluded.
