On the morning of October 24, 2024, a deadly attack rocked the Ifite community near Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, leaving multiple people dead. The assault, which occurred around 9:15 a.m., took place near Witness Garden on Ifite Amansea Road, sending shockwaves through the predominantly student-populated area.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one individual reporting, “Gunmen just shot a guy a few minutes ago at Ifite, Awka. He’s lying lifeless.” A lecturer passing by counted seven bodies, prompting him to retreat.
Violence like this has plagued the region, with past incidents linked to various militant groups operating in southeastern Nigeria. In May 2023, a similar attack targeted a US convoy, claiming four lives, further complicating the security landscape in the area.
State Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack, stating that a police response team had been dispatched, although casualty figures were yet to be released. “We received information on the attack and a response team has been deployed. Further details will be shared soon,” Ikenga told reporters.
This latest violence has instilled fear in the local community, particularly among students, as the sounds of gunfire echoed throughout the area. Just days earlier, 16 people were killed in a separate shooting at a festival in Nibo, also in Awka South Local Government Area. Despite promises from the state government to apprehend the attackers, no arrests have been made, with authorities attributing the violence to cult-related activities.
