Four police officers and two women were shot dead in a dawn attack by gunmen on a checkpoint in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.
The incident occurred around 5 am on Friday, March 8, 2024, near a Gas station close to Ebyia Bridge along Hilltop/Nwoke road.
This marks the second attack on the checkpoint by gunmen, with the previous attack last year resulting in about two deaths.
The road is a major entry into the city and also leads to Governor Francis Nwifuru’s country home.
Police spokesperson, Joshua Ụkandu confirmed the incident in a statement.
He said: “Today at about 05:00 am, operatives of the Command who were posted to duty at hilltop stop and search/pin-down point along Nwofe Road, at the outskirts of Abakaliki, were attacked by armed hoodlums.”
Ụkandu claimed the attackers were suspected to be members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militia arm of the secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He said gunmen shot sporadically at the operatives who engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel.
He stated: “In the ensuing gun battle, the hoodlums scampered and abandoned a pump action rifle which was recovered. However, four (4) of the operatives paid the supreme price, while two (2) civilians were caught in the crossfire and killed.”
The spokesperson noted that the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi state police Command, CP Augustina Ogbodo, swiftly dispatched tactical teams of the command to the scene, who are on the trail of the fleeing hoodlums.
He said: “She is using this medium to call on the good citizens of the State to provide the command with valuable information that could help apprehend the fleeing hoodlums and assured that the command remains steadfastly dedicated to safeguarding lives and properties in the state.”
