Residents of Achi, a town in the Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, were thrown into panic following a brutal attack by yet-to-be-identified gunmen who killed at least three police officers at a checkpoint near Ozudaa Market.
ConfirmNews gathered that the tragic incident occurred on Monday, sending shockwaves through the usually quiet community and raising fresh concerns about the growing spate of violent attacks against security operatives in the Southeast region.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers, whose identities remain unknown, stormed the checkpoint in a hail of bullets, catching the policemen off guard and gunning them down in cold blood.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but locals suspect it may be linked to the rising activities of criminal gangs operating under the guise of secessionist movements in the region.
Though details of the attack are still emerging, a chilling video that has gone viral on social media shows the lifeless bodies of the slain officers sprawled on the ground, with their uniforms soaked in blood.
The disturbing footage has triggered outrage and sorrow among Nigerians online, as many call for swift justice and improved protection for law enforcement personnel.
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Calls placed to his phone went unanswered, and no official statement had been released by the police authorities regarding the incident.
Security has since been beefed up in Achi and surrounding areas, with multiple checkpoints set up to forestall further attacks.
Residents, however, remain fearful, with many calling on the state and federal governments to urgently address the deteriorating security situation in Enugu State and across the Southeast.
This latest attack adds to the growing list of coordinated ambushes on security agents in the region, sparking concerns over the safety of officers who continue to put their lives on the line in service to the nation.
As investigations continue, the Enugu State Police Command is expected to issue an official statement and launch a manhunt for the perpetrators of the deadly ambush.