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The Anambra State Police Command has revealed that the deadly attack on residential settlers in Agu-Ifite, Awka, in the early hours of July 21, was a calculated criminal attempt to trigger ethnic tension and destabilise the prevailing peace and security in the state.
The Command, however, said the plot failed as residents of Anambra continued to demonstrate unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, refusing to be provoked into ethnic divisions.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Command noted that the maturity displayed by Ndi Anambra had frustrated the objective of those behind the attack, whose intention was to sow discord among communities.
Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police led a Joint Security Team to the affected settlement for an on-the-spot assessment and operational review. During the visit, the team met with community leaders, representatives of the affected settlers and other key stakeholders to strengthen public confidence, gather firsthand information and reinforce ongoing security measures.
According to the police, intelligence obtained from survivors and other credible sources has yielded useful leads, prompting intensified intelligence-driven operations and a coordinated manhunt to identify, arrest and prosecute all those responsible for the attack.
The Command assured residents that security agencies remain committed to tracking down the perpetrators and ensuring they face the full weight of the law.
It also appealed to members of the public to remain calm, vigilant and continue providing credible and timely information that would assist ongoing investigations.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, the Police assured that every law-abiding resident of Anambra State, regardless of ethnic or religious background, would continue to enjoy equal protection under the law.
The Command further stressed that no effort would be spared in preserving the state’s peaceful atmosphere and preventing criminal elements from exploiting ethnic or religious differences to create instability.
