Chaos erupted Tuesday afternoon in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA of Anambra State, after unidentified gunmen launched a brazen attack that left two civilians dead and a Sienna vehicle reportedly belonging to Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) burnt. The incident occurred around 3:00 p.m., within a stone’s throw of a nearby police station and a four-way military checkpoint.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers struck swiftly, opening fire in a rain of bullets that lasted over 30 minutes. One of the victims, a commercial tricyclist, was gunned down while attempting to drive off, while the second, a local shop owner, was executed at his place of business. Both men died on the spot, sending shockwaves through the busy commercial town.
Reports suggest that the armed men also set ablaze a Sienna van parked near the scene, allegedly linked to AVG operatives. As panic gripped the town, businesses shut down and residents fled for safety, questioning how such a deadly assault could occur just seconds away from multiple security checkpoints.
Locals expressed frustration and fear over what they describe as a pattern of impunity, calling on state authorities and security agencies to act swiftly. “We have a police station less than one minute away, and a military checkpoint just 30 seconds from here. Yet no response,” lamented a resident who asked to remain anonymous.
While the identity and motive of the attackers remain unknown, early witnesses strongly dismissed any link to Fulani herdsmen, a common scapegoat in rural insecurity narratives. “This is not Fulani. These are our people, and the government must stop playing politics with our lives,” a youth leader said at the scene.
This marks yet another bloody episode in Anambra’s escalating insecurity, as criminal elements increasingly target soft civilian and vigilante-linked sites, sometimes operating unchallenged even in proximity to state security infrastructure. Residents are now demanding a complete audit of local intelligence and a shake-up of security command in the region.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Police Command has not issued an official statement. Meanwhile, tension remains high in Ekwulobia, with fears that this latest attack could trigger reprisals or further violence if immediate measures are not taken.
