The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the death of two individuals and the abduction of two others following a violent incident suspected to be linked to a cult-related clash in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area.
According to a statement released on Friday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the tragic events unfolded around 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, when heavily armed assailants believed to be cultists launched a coordinated attack at two strategic locations in Oko — Total Junction and Tipper Junction.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers arrived on the scene using a motorcycle and a black Lexus 350 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), which had no registration plate. The attackers reportedly began firing indiscriminately, causing panic and chaos within the community.
In response to the distressing development, a Joint Security Force (JSF), comprising personnel from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and local vigilante groups, was swiftly deployed to the area. The operation, led by the Area Commander in Aguata, succeeded in rescuing two victims, including a female, who was immediately taken to a medical facility and is currently receiving treatment.
The police assured the public that the situation is under control and that normalcy has been restored in the affected locations. Investigations are ongoing, and the Command has revealed that its operatives are working with information obtained from the crime scene and statements from witnesses to track down the perpetrators.
The Anambra State Police Command has called for calm and encouraged residents to remain vigilant while assuring that every effort is being made to apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice.
