By Praise Chinecherem
A police officer has been feared killed, as gunmen reportedly attacked another police checkpoint in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The attack occurred at about 6:30 am on Friday, August 16, at the checkpoint beside the Nnobi Police Headquarters.
The incident is coming barely a week after some yet-to-be-identified gunmen similarly attacked a police checkpoint in Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of the State where one police officer was gunned down by the hoodlums, who attacked the area with explosive device.
The gunmen reportedly engaged the policemen in a gun duel that lasted for about an hour, during which one of the policemen, simply identified as Nwaibi, was fatally injured. The deceased police officer was said to be the driver of one of the police vehicles.
According to source, the hoodlums had lodged in a house close to the checkpoint, at the compound of a woman identified as Mama Amanda.
“They broke a wall through which they entered the compound and forced the residents to open the gate to drive in their cars. They also collected the handsets belonging to the residents and forced them into a room and warned them not to raise the alarm failing which they would be shot.
“The hoodlums who carrying items including snipers, AKs, lunchers, chains also captured a young man going on an errand that fateful day,” the source said.
The source also quoted the unidentified young man as saying: “I was going on an errand that morning. They asked me where I was going. I told them. They asked me who my parents were. I told them. One of them shouted at the one questioning me saying ‘If he cannot say anything fire him.’
“Then they dragged me into one of their cars inside the compound and continued to ask questions. They were about ten in number. Then, one of them told me that I should find my way if I heard a gunshot.
“As they started shooting, I laid flat on the floor of the vehicle and later crawled out to the wall, climbed it, and jumped out of the compound.”
Confirming the incident on phone, Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga said a police officer was killed in the attack.
He however noted that operation was ongoing in the area on the directive of the State Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam.
“One policeman was killed, and there is an operation going on in that area now, which the Commissioner of Police has ordered,” he said.
