Gunmen believed to be affiliated with cult groups have fatally shot an individual at the bustling Aroma junction in Awka, the capital of Anambra State.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday evening, sparked chaos, prompting traders in the vicinity to hastily shutter their shops and flee for safety.

The victim, identified as a resident of Amudo Village in Awka, was reportedly a tricycle revenue collector who had previously worked as a Keke operator himself. According to a source, the assailants trailed him from the Ifite area of the state capital and executed him at close range at a filling station, a popular bus stop for buses and tricycles.

Following the shooting, businesses in the area swiftly closed down, while roadside vendors abandoned their wares and fled. The surrounding roads quickly emptied as individuals deserted their vehicles and sought refuge on foot.

As of the time of reporting, the victim’s lifeless body remained at the filling station. Awka has been grappling with a surge in cult-related violence, with gangs perpetrating killings of their rivals in broad daylight. CONTINUE READING