• Burn vehicles, motorcycles
At least three policemen were killed and a patrol vehicle and motorcycle burnt when gunmen attacked two police checkpoints in Amodu, Obeagu-Amechi, in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Wednesday evening.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the shooting, without giving further details in a statement, yesterday.
Remains of the policemen and the civilian had been evacuated.
It was observed that police had cordoned off and diverted traffic at the section of the Enugu-Amechi-Agbani Road, precisely, in the Obeagu-Amechi community, where the vehicle and motorcycle were burnt and human casualties recorded, yesterday.
The police spokesman, however, said that information about the incidents at the two checkpoints within the two council areas was still sketchy.
“Meanwhile, preliminary investigations have commenced. Further development will be communicated, please,’’
he said.
However, an eyewitness and commercial tricycle rider, Mr. Obinna Nweke, who spoke to NAN on the incident at Obeagu-Amechi community, said that the shooting that started at about 5:30 pm lasted for over an hour.
Nweke revealed that 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.
“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 unknown gunmen around 7 pm, the whole Enugu-Amechi-Agbani Road was deserted,’’
he said.
Another eyewitness and a student, Mr. Chimezie Okoh, said that he passed through the road at about 6:45 pm 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 crossfire.
“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.”
Efforts to get people’s reaction to what happened at the checkpoint at Amagunze community in Nkanu East LGA proved abortive as commercial motorcycle operators plying the route refused to comment.
It was also learnt that the police at Amagunze, Nkanu East Local Government Area, who were promptly alerted, laid ambush on the fleeing gunmen, killing some of them as another round of gun battle ensued.
