Three policemen were killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked a Police checkpoint at Umunze, in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Sources confirmed that the incident took place around 12 noon and caused pandemonium in area as the gunmen shot indiscriminately for over an hour.
The gunmen, who were operating in unmarked dark Sports Utility Vehicle killed the cops at the Joint security checkpoint at Ihite road, Umunze.
Umunze has been an epicentre of killings of military and other security operatives by “Unknown Gunmen’ who are operating as offshoot of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s Eastern Security Network (ESN). The sprawling town has borders with communities in Imo and Abia States where these gunmen operate as independent franchise who proclaim Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, as inspiration.
Seven months ago, the gunmen gunned down four soldiers and two other security operatives near the Nkwo Market at Umunze.
On a day of rampage in February 2022, the gunmen struck in Umunze and three other adjoining communities of Umuchu, Nkpologwu and Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State, killing one person in each community.
An eyewitness said of Thursday’s attack at Umunze: ”It was like war. For over one hour the hoodlums were shooting indiscriminately. I saw three policemen lying dead on the ground during the attack, while others took cover and shooting back from a distance. I suspect that some of the policemen also sustained gunshot injuries in the attack”
The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga, while confirming the incident to our correspondent, vowed that the development would not deter the the command from achieving it objective of sustaining safety in the state.
He said,” 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.”
