Nigeria: Gunmen kill three police officers in South-East; kidnappers abduct two doctors, demand N100 million ransom

ABUJA–Three police officers were killed when gunmen attacked a police checkpoint in Agbani, a community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria’s South-east.

The gunmen stormed the checkpoint at about 8 a.m. on Saturday and opened fire on police officers on duty, killing three of them at the spot.

The police checkpoint is close to Agbani Divisional Police Headquarters.

Enugu, like other states in Nigeria’s South-east, has witnessed an increase in deadly attacks lately.

The latest incident comes barely three weeks after gunmen abducted some returning university students and other travellers in Ekwegbe, a community in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of the state.

In October, gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Amodu Awkunanaw, a community in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State. Two persons were feared killed in the attack.

Also in October, two persons, including a police officer, were killed when gunmen attacked Inyi Police Divisional Headquarters in Oji River Local Government Area of the state. In a separate attack, gunmen killed three police officers at New Haven, Enugu North Local Government Area of the state.

The attacks, mostly targeted at security officials and government facilities, have been attributed to the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra which is agitating for a sovereign state for the Igbo-speaking people in the South-east.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Cross River chapter, says the abductors of two of its members are demanding N100 million ransom before their release.

NMA Chairman in the state, Felix Archibong, also a medical doctor, said the two doctors were abducted on Friday alongside two others at Ikomita section of the Calabar-Ikom Highway.

The Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Sule Balarabe, confirmed the abduction of the two doctors. He said the police would do “everything possible” to get the victims released unhurt.

“We are going to comb the forest to secure their release. I assure that the matter will be adequately dealt with. We have the cooperation of the locals and I believe we will have positive results. I am on the ground with various units.”

Abduction for ransom is now one of the dominant crimes across various Nigerian cities.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK