At least two persons allegedly enforcing Monday’s sit-at-home order in Anambra have been killed during a gun battle with a police patrol team.

The spokesperson for the police in the state, Toochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Awka.

Mr Ikenga stated that the incident occurred in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area headquarters.

“The operatives on crime prevention patrol on Umunze Road in the early hours of Monday, May 16 engaged gunmen allegedly enforcing sit-at-home in Anambra.

“The operatives neutralised two of the miscreants and recovered a white Toyota Hiace Bus with no registration number,” he said.

He explained that trouble started when “the hoodlums” started obstructing the movement of road users who were going about their lawful businesses.

The police spokesperson noted that the deceased forcefully collected motorcycles and tricycles from their operators, chased the passengers away and set the machines on fire.

Mr Ikenga said the command has intensified surveillance within the state to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

The proscribed Independent People of Biafra, which initially issued the sit-at-home order in the South-East, had long issued a counter directive, limiting it to the days its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, would appear in court. 

(NAN)