The Anambra State Police Command has alleged that the killing of four herders and several cattle in Agu-Ifite was a calculated attempt to spark ethnic tension and destabilise the state’s peaceful atmosphere.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of July 21, 2026, targeted herders residing in the community.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said preliminary investigations and intelligence gathered from survivors indicated that the assailants deliberately carried out the attack to create division among residents.
According to him, the incident was part of a criminal plot aimed at undermining the peace and security that have continued to exist in Anambra State.
Ikenga noted that residents of the state had continued to demonstrate unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence despite attempts to incite ethnic conflict.
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He said the refusal of residents to embrace divisive narratives had frustrated the objective of those behind the attack.
The police spokesman disclosed that security operatives had launched an intelligence-driven manhunt for the perpetrators, adding that useful information obtained from survivors and other credible sources was already aiding the investigation.
He assured that everyone involved in the attack would be identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Ikenga urged members of the public to remain calm, vigilant and continue providing security agencies with credible and timely information to support ongoing operations.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding all law-abiding residents of Anambra State, irrespective of their ethnic or religious background, stressing that no effort would be spared in bringing those responsible for the killings to justice.
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