June 18, (THEWILL) – Gunmen on Friday in Nsukka, Enugu State, killed a policeman and set ablaze a patrol van at a police check points in the area.
A resident source said, the policeman was killed in Umanu junction in Nsukka, while the police patrol vehicle was set ablaze along Ibeagwa-Ani road.
Also, an eyewitness in Umanu junction, who pleaded anonymity, said the incident occurred at about 6:20am when sounds of sporadic gunshots were heard, adding that the lifeless body of the police officer was seen after the gunmen left the area.
“I quickly rushed to my doors to ensure that all of them are well locked. I switched off all electric lights in my house and told my wife and children to keep quiet because I thought it was armed robbers. They said the policeman was killed during gun duel between police team on checkpoint and the gunmen”, a resident reportedly said.
A trader, who was an eyewitness at the Ibeagwa-Ani Road incident, where police van was set ablaze said he was in a commercial bus going to Nkwo Ibeagwa-Ani Market when they sighted police van on fire with five armed men who masked their faces watching the vehicle.
“Our driver quickly reversed and drove to a safer distance where we watched until the gunmen zoomed off shooting sporadically. When we reached the scene of the incident the van has already burnt to ashes, we stopped like other road users for some minutes and continue our journey”, he said.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the attack.
“Yes, there was an attack on police operatives in Nsukka today. The details are still sketchy. I will communicate with you once I get the details”, he said.
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