An armed gang on Thursday opened fire on security men and killed three officers at a police check on Umunze-Ihite Road, in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
An eyewitness account revealed that the armed men in a large number came in a commando-like manner and started shooting sporadically into the air to scare residents of the area.
After killing the three officers, others in the police team were said to have fled the scene.
A resident of the area, pleading anonymity, said the community became deserted after the attack.
He also said many shop owners in the area hurriedly closed their shops and passersby fled in different directions.
According to him: “The incident happened early in the morning. Three policemen were killed by the gunmen. They fired gunshots in the air for several minutes as people ran away because bullets were flying around here.”
Meanwhile, the state police command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the incident to the journalists, said: “This it is one of the highest prices security officers pay in serving their nation but we will not be deterred by the attack.
“It is an unfortunate incident and it 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.”