A violent clash between local security operatives and police officers in Anambra State has left two people feared dead and several others injured, causing widespread panic in the area.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, November 20, at Izuchukwu Junction along the Nnobi/Nnewi Road. Witnesses reported that stray bullets struck passersby and ignited a vehicle, further fueling the chaos.
“We saw security operatives exchanging gunfire. During the shooting, two passersby were hit by stray bullets, and a car caught fire after its fuel tank was hit. People immediately fled the scene,” an eyewitness recounted.
Confirming the incident, Anambra State Police Command spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga explained that the gunfight was a case of mistaken identity. He stated that local security forces mistook police operatives for “unfriendly elements” and opened fire.
Ikenga dismissed speculations linking the shooting to non-state actors or any disruption of the burial ceremonies for the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, clarifying that the police were pursuing a suspect when the incident occurred.
“A police patrol vehicle, a Toyota Venza, was damaged during the shooting and set ablaze. Unfortunately, two innocent bystanders were injured and have been hospitalized,” Ikenga said.
In response to the incident, authorities have deployed joint security forces to restore order in the area and ensure the smooth continuation of Senator Ubah’s burial events.
The police have called on Nnewi residents to remain calm, assuring the public that investigations into the cause of the gunfight are underway.