The gunmen, unable to withstand the superior fire power of the soldiers and police officers, quickly ran into the large premises of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital which is directly opposite the campaign ground.
“They suffered serious injuries, even though they managed to shoot a gallant soldier”, according to an eye witness who did not want his name disclosed in the media for fear of his safety.
“If the gunmen had not run into the hospital which is a very delicate place to shoot any person, the security men would have gunned all of them down ”.
Security forces, who recovered all three vehicles and motorcycles used by the gunmen, were searching the area by the time this report was filed.
The Anambra State Police Command has requested the people in the area to help look out for people with gunshots and report them.
It has also asked hospitals and other health facilities in both Ihiala Local Government Area and neighbouring communities in Imo State to report to security agencies patients with gun wounds.
Meanwhile, Gov. Willie Obiano has commended police officers and soldiers who repelled the attack for their gallantry.
Speaking at Atani in Ogbaru LGA where he led a large crowd of APGA faithful to welcome the APGA governorship candidate in the forthcoming election, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the governor described the response of the security men as professional and patriotic.
In the same vein, Soludo, who lost three policemen guarding him when he was attacked on March 31 in his hometown of Isuofia, Aguata local Government Area while addressing the youth of the town, lauded the security forces for bravery.
“These security men and women in Anambra state lay down their lives for us and they do their best because of the encouragement they receive from the security-conscious state government, among other factors.
“We expect more professional exhibition as days go by and the election date approaches”.
The APGA candidate expressed sympathy for innocent victims of the attack, pleading with every aggrieved person “to lay down his or her weapon and opt for dialogue to resolve all differences in the interest of our people”.
Meanwhile, Spokesman of Anambra Police Command,DSP Ikenga Tochukwu confirming the incident, said that police recovered one AK 47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition, two magazines, four vehicles at the scene of the incident.
“The police operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, at 9:30am today, October 12, 2021, successfully repelled an attack at Odata Central School, beside St Martin’s Church, Ihiala.
“Exhibits recovered include: one AK 47 rifle; two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition; one Lexus 350 Jeep, one Rav 4 Jeep, one Mercedes Benz and a Toyota Corolla.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the hoodlums started shooting sporadically while arriving Odata Central School but they were successfully repelled by Police operatives and military on ground. No casualty was recorded by the police,” he said.
Ikenga affirmed that normalcy has been restored and operations are ongoing in the area for possible arrest of fleeing gang members.
