July 22, (THEWILL) – At least four police officers were killed when gunmen attacked a checkpoint in Obeagu-Amechi community in Enugu South Local Government on Wednesday night.
Two passers-by, including a Pastor and a member of the Neighbourhood Watch, were also said to have been gunned down during the attack.
The attack was said to have been carried out at a checkpoint at Obeagu Uno shortly after Inyaba Bridge along Obeagu Uno-Amodu – Umueze Amechi road, on the outskirts of Enugu metropolis.
Reports say at least three of the gunmen may have been gunned down too at nearby Amagunze by police operatives, who were promptly alerted and laid ambush for the fleeing gunmen.
The heavy gun battle also left many bystanders and commuters injured.
A police patrol van was set ablaze by the gunmen during the attack.
Sources said the assailants, who came from the Agbani axis of the road, had an encounter with policemen at 4-Corner Junction and Amagunze in Nkanu East Council headquarters before attacking the checkpoint at Enugu South.
An eyewitness and commercial tricycle rider, Obinna Nweke, told newsmen that the shooting started at about 5.30 p.m. and lasted for over an hour.
Nweke said the checkpoint at the Obeagu Amechi community was manned by about 12 fully-armed policemen as he passed through the checkpoints three times while plying the route picking his passengers.
He narrated: “What happened at the section of the road at Obeagu Amechi community was like a war situation as the heavy shooting continued unabated and everybody had to run for safety.
“After the gun duel between the police and the unknown gunmen around 5.30 p.m., the whole Enugu-Amechi-Agbani Road was deserted.”
Another eyewitness and a student, Chimezie Okoh, said that he passed through the road at about 6:45 p.m. when the shooting had stopped at the Obeagu-Amechi community.
“Thank God, I and the commercial motorcycle operator carrying me are still alive and not hit by stray bullets from the cross-fire.
“However, I saw a policeman whose head had been shattered with bullets and another policeman lying lifeless.
“And after passing a small bridge near the checkpoint, I saw a lifeless civilian, probably hit by a stray bullet, in front of a building suspected to be a Church.”
Confirming the incident, Spokesperson of the State Police Command, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, said: “Information surrounding the shooting incidents in the evening hours of 21/07/2021, where Police Operatives were allegedly attacked by yet-to-be-identified gunmen at checkpoints in Obeagu-Amechi in Enugu South LGA and Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA are still sketchy.”
He said that preliminary investigations had commenced and further developments would be communicated.
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