Police officer killed as gunmen attack check point in Anambra

Two armed men operating on a motorcycle on Wednesday reportedly killed a police officer and made away with his AK47 riffle in Onitsha, Anambra.

The incident occurred barely three weeks after a police inspector was killed at a road block at Ugwunwasike round-about, Ogidi near Onitsha.

An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, said Wednesday’s incident occurred at about 3.30pm at a check point near Nkpor junction.

The source said the hoodlums shot the policeman at close range, collected his riffle and sped-off, adding that the incident made people around and other police officers scamper for safety.

Efforts to get further details of the deceased and the mortuary where his body was deposited from the Ogidi Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Mark Jafaru was not successful.

Jafaru said the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Nkeiru Nwode was in a better position to comment on the development.

However, when Nwode was contacted on phone, she said “I have not been brief on that; when I am fully briefed, I will brief you people.”

Wednesday’s incident makes it the third reported case of gun snatching around Onitsha this year by armed men with police officers being allegedly killed in the process.