Secessionist militiamen attacked an army unit at Umunze, Anambra State and three soldiers were confirmed dead as well as one civilian.
The attack comes barely 24 hours after a similar attack in Enugu, an adjoining state.
The incident occurred around 2 pm on Wednesday in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of the state with one of the assailants reportedly losing his life.
ChronicleNG gathered that the incident caused fear and apprehension in the affected communities.
Local media reported that the soldiers killed in Anambra were moving in a minibus when they were attacked by the hoodlums.
A security source, who confirmed the incident, described the attack as terrible, saying five soldiers lost their lives.
“I don’t know what Anambra is turning into because of these hoodlums.
“I was told the military men were moving in their vehicle when the assailants struck along that Umunze -Umunneochi road around 2 pm.
“But I assure you that those who did this will be apprehended. Our men have moved with other sister agencies. They must not go free. Our CP (Commissioner of Police), Echeng Echeng is a field man.”
Another source said, “Nobody saw any sign of the presence of those criminals, what we heard were gunshots like a war zone.
“Some of us who were close to the bank ran for our dear lives. The criminals took the soldiers unawares, the reason they got all of them.”
The state police command has confirmed the incident, even though the casualty figure was not disclosed.
The command’s spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, who confirmed to newsmen said, “There was shooting close to Zenith Bank in Umunze.”
He said the details had not been received, adding that the incident happened between 12-1.30 pm.
However, he said the command had deployed security operatives to secure the area, adding that those responsible for such an act must regret it.
