The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a suspected gunman for attacking a Police patrol team in Eke-Awka Market Awka on Monday.
The patrol is part of the strategy the Command is using to reclaim the public space and boost confidence among Ndi Anambra and residents alike.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, the suspect, on sighting the police patrol vehicle at low speed chased after the van with a cutlass in hand, shouting at the officers to go home.
The eyewitness noted that the suspect seemed to be mentally challenged but expressed surprise that the suspect was earlier seen standing with a group of people allegedly suspected to be gunmen along with the popular market.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said the attack happened just three days after the new Commissioner of Police CP Echeng Oworo Echeng, took over as the 32nd Commissioner of Police in the state.
He affirmed that the Command arrested one suspect at Eke Awka who attacked a police convoy on patrol.
The PPRO then assured residents that the attack would not stop the gallant officers from monitoring the situation to restore residents confidence in the state.
Similarly, Rumours of the killing of some people in Awka the capital of Anambra State on Monday disrupted school activities, with most schools shutting down in fear.
The rumours first came that gunshots were heard at the popular Eke Awka market and that some people had been killed during the clash.
The rumour escalated, when some people started panicking after another version of the story had it that a principal of a popular government owned secondary school had been gunned down by rampaging gunmen.
As at 12pm, students of schools in the state capital were sent home by school managements, with most parents scampering to pick up their wards.
A parent, Mrs Uchechi Obi who spoke to our correspondent said she heard conflicting stories which prompted her to run to her child’s school.
As at 2pm, all schools in the state capital was officially closed, with pupils sent home.
Checks by our Correspondent however revealed that the rumour was triggered by gunshots said to have been fired by security operatives at Eke Awka, where they had gone to arrest a criminal, said to be involved in an attack on the police.
