Three vigilante operatives and a teenager have been killed by gunmen in a patrol vehicle, in the Umuaka community in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that the vigilantes were on patrol on Sunday evening, July 7, 2024, in the community when the gunmen attacked them near Afor Umuaka and Hilltop Primary School.

According to an eyewitness, the assailants set up an ambush and began shooting at the security personnel.

The witness said a stray bullet struck the teenager, who died on the spot.

“The gunmen overtook the community security Toyota Sienna the security men were patrolling with and shot them dead,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Henry Okoye, said a tactical squad had been deployed to apprehend the attackers.

“The Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has strongly condemned the attack and gruesome murder of the vigilante personnel of the Umuaka Autonomous Community by gunmen on Sunday evening, 7/07/2024,” he said.

“In the wake of the tragic incident that claimed the lives of three gallant vigilantes who were on routine crime prevention patrol and a passerby, the Commissioner of Police has deployed the Command’s Tactical Squad with the available operational resources to go all out in synergy with other security agencies and hunt down the hoodlums responsible for the dastardly act

“CP Aboki Danjuma expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident and vowed that the command will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators are all arrested and brought to justice. He empathized with the families of the deceased victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.”