A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday, October 24, 2024, in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, leaving multiple people dead.
Reports gathered by SaharaReporters indicate that the attack occurred around 9:15 a.m. in the Ifite area, close to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and Witness Garden on Ifite Amansea Road.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene, with one stating, “Gunmen just shot a guy a few minutes ago at Ifite, Awka. He’s lying there, lifeless.”
In another account, a lecturer who was on his way to the university reported seeing seven bodies, prompting him to turn back immediately.
This kind of violence is unfortunately not new to the region. Southeastern Nigeria has witnessed similar attacks, including a high-profile incident in May 2023 when gunmen ambushed a U.S. convoy, resulting in the deaths of four people. The security situation in the region remains tense, with various militant groups, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), being active in the area.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack to SaharaReporters but could not provide an exact number of casualties. He stated that a police response team had been dispatched to the scene and promised to release further details as they become available.
“We received information about the attack, and a police response team has been deployed to the scene,” Ikenga said.
The incident has thrown residents into panic, especially in the areas predominantly occupied by students, as heavy gunfire echoed through the neighborhood.
This attack follows another deadly shooting on Sunday, where 16 people were killed during a festival in Nibo, also in the Awka South Local Government Area. Despite the state government’s promises to track down the perpetrators, no arrests have been made, and authorities have attributed the violence to cult-related activities.
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