Gunmen attack police checkpoint in Anambra, kill 3 officers

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka

Three police officers were, on Thursday, killed when gunmen attacked a Military checkpoint in a community in Anambra state.

The gunmen were said to have opened fire on the officers who were manning the checkpoint, killing three of them at the spot.

Ikengaonline gathered that the incident happened early Thursday morning along Umunze — Ihite road, in Orumba South Local Government Area, of the State.

A source who lives near the scene of the attack told Ikengaonline that since after the attack, the area has been deserted as even shop owners in the area have closed up shops for fear of another attack.

“The incident happened very early in the morning. Three policemen were killed by the gunmen. People ran away because bullets were flying around here,” he said.

A video clip, apparently recorded shortly after the attack, has been circulating on various WhatsApp groups.

In the clip, seen by Ikengaonline three bodies of the slain officers were spotted in the area.

While one body was lying along the road, the other two lifeless bodies were seen at the corner of a building very close to the scene of the attack.

Confirming the incident in a WhatsApp conversation, the Police spokesperson in Anambra State, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, regretted the loss but said that the police in the state is not deterred by the attack.

“It is an unfortunate incident and is part of the highest price security officers pay in serving the nation but the police command is not deterred by this development.

“The reinforcements teams are already in the area and the manhunt for the assailants is ongoing while joint security patrols have been intensified in the area.”

However, Ikengaonline reports that this is not the first time that police and military officers manning the same checkpoint have been attacked in the area.