A yet-to-be-identified man in Ugwuagba, Awada, near the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State, has reportedly bathed about eight people with a substance suspected to be acid.

Information gathered by News Express has it that the suspect carried out the act following a quarrel he had with one Onyeka Nwachukwu at Mgbuka Old Auto Spare Parts Market located in the area.

He was said to have gone out of sight immediately after allegedly attacking the unsuspecting victims with acid.

According to a source, he took off immediately after pouring acid on the people. He was pursued by onlookers but he outran them and disappeared.

Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, said the suspect is currently at large.

He said: “A young man whose name and address is yet to be ascertained had a quarrel with one Onyeka Nwachukwu, aged 38 years, at Ngbuka Old Auto Spare Parts Market in Ugwuagba, Awada.

“In the heat of the altercation, the suspect who is presently on the run attacked the persons with substance suspected to be acid.”

The PPRO reeled out the names of the victims who suffered various degrees of injuries to include Onyeka Nwachukwu (38), Ofili Benjamin (32) and Ofili Damian (42).

Others are Okoro Ebuka (23), Ekwueme Anayo (35), Nnamani Chukwu (23), Obiora Chidubem (18) and Obasi Solomon (24).

Mohammed said that the victims were rushed by police patrol team attached to Awada Division to St. Martin’s Hospital, Ugwuagba, for treatment.

According to him, six of the victims have been treated and discharged while two others were responding to treatment.

He added that the case was being investigated even as efforts were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

The Command called on residents of the state to not only be security-conscious but report suspicious persons carrying substance inside a container at unusual places in order to avert such ugly incident.

Update news