On Friday, gunmen stormed the location of a funeral ritual in Ndingbu village, Nnewi South Local Government Area.
It was unclear who was being buried, but according to a Dailypost report, the gunmen targeted vigilante operatives who were providing security at the event.
According to sources, the gunmen also moved to the Utuh hamlet in the same Local Government Area, where they attacked a vigilante operatives’ office, lighting it ablaze and kidnapping one individual.
Though specifics of the attacks are still hazy, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga of the State Police Command verified the event.
According to Ikenga, the Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, has ordered a manhunt for the armed individuals.
He said the operatives ordered to go against the gunmen include Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorist unit, Special forces and others, who he said are already in the area, and that normalcy had been restored, while operation was still going on.
He said: “Although no notification was given to the Police about the planned burial, but information reveals that the Vigilante groups where invited.
“Further details received showed that the miscreants arrived the ceremony and started shooting sporadically in an attempt to disarm the vigilante operatives.
“In another development, the hoodlums also attacked, Utuh Viligante office, abducted one of the members of staff and set the Viligante Operation vehicle on fire.”
The Command, however, assured that the police and other security agents are firm in providing security services in the State, while also urging residents of the area to help the police with information that will aid the ongoing operation.