Unknown Gunmen: Police Confirm Attack On Military Checkpoint In Ebonyi

The Nigeria Police Force, Ebonyi State Command has confirmed an attack on a military checkpoint along Amangwu axis of the Amasiri-Owutu Federal road in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Confirming the attack, the Police Spokesperson in Ebonyi State, DSP Joshua Ukandu stated that information available from the Owutu Police Division revealed that some hoodlums attacked the military checkpoint in the early hours of Friday as they shoot sporadically.

He noted that although, it was not yet ascertained, if there were casualties, “the attack was carried out by yet to be identified gunmen operating in a motorcycle.”

Meanwhile, a community source who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said that a soldier was killed while one of the gunmen was also killed by Soldiers during the attack.

“There was an attack this morning at the Amangwu Military Checkpoint and there 2 persons were killed. From the information available, a soldier was killed and one of the gunmen was also killed by the soldiers.

It was gathered the attack caused panic within the affected Community as Motorists and Commuters plying the Federal road had to spend hours waiting for peace to be restored before continuing their journeys.

Reacting to the attack, some elders of the Community who condemned the dastardly act said those behind it were enemies of the State and the community.

“They are those who are not happy with the peace that the community have witnessed in the last 2 years.”

An elder of the Community, Chief Orji Ama said: “We woke up this morning to hear about the attack at one of the military checkpoints in our Local Government Area. It was an unfortunate incident. It left many of us in shock as we have not witnessed any attack in our Local Government in the last 2 years.

“Just recently, part of our community known for hostility celebrated 7 months of peace and unity. Only for some hoodlums to attack the military check point. The presence of the military in our Local Government has brought about peace in the community and we are happy.”

He called on Security Agencies to go after the perpetrators of the dastardly act, with a view to arresting and prosecuting them.

“Edda is a peaceful community and anyone who under the guise of unknown gunmen to cause havoc in the community must be fished out and prosecuted.”

Another Community Leader, Chief James Chima who also condemned the attack maintained that the community will go all out to assist the security Agencies to ensure the security of lives and properties of indigenes are protected.

Chief Chima said that an attack on the military checkpoint is a complete sabotage to the peace and security being witnessed in the Local Government Area adding that hoodlums cannot sabotage the peace and security in the Local Government.

“The attack could be best be described as sabotage. It is a sabotage to the peace and security the Local Government had witnessed in the last 2 years. Enemies of the Local Government wants to bring about insecurity again in the community but we will do everything to resist it.

“The military presence has also helped immensely to ensure peace and security of the Local Government. That security and peace will never be truncated by those parading as unknown gunmen. The security Agencies must go all out to fish out the hoodlums and ensure they face the full wrath of the law.”

Vanguard investigation revealed that the incident was not connected to the ongoing protests in parts of the Country.