Gunmen attack army checkpoint, two people reportedly killed
Two people were reportedly killed on Tuesday when gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Amodu Awkunanaw, a community in Nkanu West Local Government Area in southeastern Enugu State. east of Nigeria.
Some soldiers, along with police, were at the checkpoint for a joint operation when the gunmen attacked them.
The incident happened around 7 a.m.
The gunmen, who reportedly stormed the checkpoint in two Lexus SUVs and a Toyota Sienna vehicle, opened fire on the soldiers and police.
There was a shooting, PREMIUM TIMES learned.
Sources said that while the number of victims and their identities are unclear, at least two people were killed in the shooting.
When contacted, state police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Ndukwe, however, said he did not have the details as he had not yet been "fully briefed" on the attack.
He said the attackers were shot and wounded in the shootout with the security agencies.
Police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects, he said.
Increase in attacksEnugu, like other states in southeastern Nigeria, has recently seen an increase in deadly attacks.
The latest incident comes about three weeks after gunmen killed the wife of a local vigilante leader in Umuopu, Enugu-Ezike, a community in the Igbo Local Government Area -Eze North of the State.
Days later, gunmen also killed three police officers in New Haven, in the state's Enugu North local government area.
Earlier in September, gunmen attacked Labor Party (LP) members who were holding a meeting in the Awgu community in the Awgu local government area of the state.
Some LP members were also attacked on August 31 by gunmen in Nenwe, a community in the Aninri local government area of the state.
Gunmen in June attacked a police checkpoint along Agbani Road in the state's Enugu South Local Government Area. Two officers were reportedly killed in the attack.
A police officer was killed in mid-June by gunmen who attacked a police checkpoint in Ibagwa-Ani, a community in the state's Nsukka Local Government Area.
Two policemen were also killed on June 2 when gunmen attacked the community of Mkpamte in the Igbo-Eze North local government area of the state.
The Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, recently banned the use of motorbikes and tricycles in some local government areas to control frequent attacks in the state.
The governor later lifted the ban following a public outcry and assurances from transportation union leaders to help the government stop the attacks.
The attacks, mostly targeted on security officials and government facilities, have been attributed to the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who are campaigning for a sovereign state for Igbo-speaking people in the southeast.
IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is being held in Abuja where he is on trial for terrorism.
Two people were reportedly killed on Tuesday when gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Amodu Awkunanaw, a community in Nkanu West Local Government Area in southeastern Enugu State. east of Nigeria.
Some soldiers, along with police, were at the checkpoint for a joint operation when the gunmen attacked them.
The incident happened around 7 a.m.
The gunmen, who reportedly stormed the checkpoint in two Lexus SUVs and a Toyota Sienna vehicle, opened fire on the soldiers and police.
There was a shooting, PREMIUM TIMES learned.
Sources said that while the number of victims and their identities are unclear, at least two people were killed in the shooting.
When contacted, state police spokesman Daniel Ndukwe confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES.
Mr. Ndukwe, however, said he did not have the details as he had not yet been "fully briefed" on the attack.
He said the attackers were shot and wounded in the shootout with the security agencies.
Police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects, he said.
Increase in attacksEnugu, like other states in southeastern Nigeria, has recently seen an increase in deadly attacks.
The latest incident comes about three weeks after gunmen killed the wife of a local vigilante leader in Umuopu, Enugu-Ezike, a community in the Igbo Local Government Area -Eze North of the State.
Days later, gunmen also killed three police officers in New Haven, in the state's Enugu North local government area.
Earlier in September, gunmen attacked Labor Party (LP) members who were holding a meeting in the Awgu community in the Awgu local government area of the state.
Some LP members were also attacked on August 31 by gunmen in Nenwe, a community in the Aninri local government area of the state.
Gunmen in June attacked a police checkpoint along Agbani Road in the state's Enugu South Local Government Area. Two officers were reportedly killed in the attack.
A police officer was killed in mid-June by gunmen who attacked a police checkpoint in Ibagwa-Ani, a community in the state's Nsukka Local Government Area.
Two policemen were also killed on June 2 when gunmen attacked the community of Mkpamte in the Igbo-Eze North local government area of the state.
The Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, recently banned the use of motorbikes and tricycles in some local government areas to control frequent attacks in the state.
The governor later lifted the ban following a public outcry and assurances from transportation union leaders to help the government stop the attacks.
The attacks, mostly targeted on security officials and government facilities, have been attributed to the outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who are campaigning for a sovereign state for Igbo-speaking people in the southeast.
IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu is being held in Abuja where he is on trial for terrorism.
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