Fear gripped residents of Idemili North, Anambra State, on Thursday as armed men dressed in police and army uniforms opened fire on the convoy of former Governor Chris Ngige along the Nkpor–Nnobi Road.

Although Ngige was not present during the attack, the assailants targeted his pilot car, shooting a police officer and carting away his gun and uniform. The vehicle was left riddled with bullets as the attackers unleashed heavy gunfire.

The violence took a tragic turn when a lady recording the incident was fatally shot by the gunmen. A shop owner who stepped outside to see what was happening was also hit, losing significant blood. He has since undergone surgery and is expected to fully recover.

Eyewitnesses described the attack as sudden and intense.

 “No policeman was killed. The escort leader who was shot has been operated on and will recover. The shop owner was lucky—the bullets didn’t touch his spine,” an eyewitness recounted.

Confirming the incident, Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said officers have launched a coordinated state-wide manhunt for the fleeing hoodlums.

Ikenga revealed that a white Mercedes-Benz SUV earlier snatched by the criminals was recovered after a high-speed pursuit involving tactical teams from Awka, Akwuzu, and Enugu-Ukwu.

The attackers were forced to abandon the stolen vehicle during a gun duel with the combined operatives.

One police officer sustained a minor gunshot injury and is receiving treatment.

Preliminary findings confirmed that the officers attacked were part of the convoy attached to Senator Chris Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State and ex-Minister of Labour and Employment.

The recovered SUV is now in police custody as investigations deepened.

Ikenga assured residents that updates would be provided as security forces intensify efforts to track down the attackers.