A six-year-old boy and his father were among the victims of a deadly attack that occurred following cult clashes in the Nibo area of Anambra State on Sunday.
Witnesses reported that the child was playing near his father’s shop when he was struck by a stray bullet during the violent incident. Armed assailants stormed the Oye Nwochichi Market and Eke Nibo Market, opening fire on bystanders and killing at least 13 people. The attack took place near the community’s New Yam festival celebration, known as “Olili Onwa Asaa.”
The security director for the Nibo community shared that one of the victims was Uchenna, the only son of his parents, who was also a vigilante officer on duty at the time of the attack. Uchenna and several others were killed in a firefight with the attackers.
Several people were rushed to the hospital with injuries, while the bodies of the deceased were retrieved by their families. In a voice note circulating on social media, a survivor recounted his near-death experience, describing how a gunman pointed a weapon at him but was stopped by another member of the group.
The state police attributed the violence to rival cult clashes and stated that an investigation was underway. The Commissioner of Police, who visited the scene, pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. However, no arrests had been made at the time of the report.
