A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday evening, June 19, near Total Petrol Station in Oko, Anambra State, where armed assailants, identified as unknown gunmen, stormed nearby student lodges and opened fire indiscriminately.
This brutal attack resulted in the deaths of many people, while an unknown number were kidnapped, leaving the local community in shock and fear.
Eyewitness accounts, particularly from students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, who captured the chaos on their mobile phones, described the harrowing scene.
The footage reveals two vehicles that the gunmen arrived in, and the students can be heard expressing their terror as they sought safety inside their lodges.
As the gunfire erupted, reports emerged of several victims lying on the ground, some gravely injured and others already dead.
Tragically, no one dared to rush outside to provide medical assistance due to the ongoing violence, which continued for several hours.
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Among the victims identified was a local barbecue seller, whose life was cut short in the midst of the chaos.
Furthermore, unconfirmed reports suggest that some lecturers from the institution may also have fallen victim to the violence.
Speculation around the motive for the attack suggests it could be linked to the recent establishment of a new security checkpoint by the ‘Operation Udo Ga Achi’ security outfit near the petrol station.
Tension reportedly escalated following the installation of this checkpoint, with locals expressing concerns about increased military presence amidst already existing checkpoints in the vicinity.
However, the precise reasons behind the gunmen’s attack remain unclear, and authorities have yet to identify those responsible for this heinous act.
The community is left grappling with the aftermath and demanding answers in the wake of this tragic event.