Gunmen Friday morning attacked police checkpoint at Omata Junction, Nnewi, Anambra state and killed a policeman with an explosive thrown to the police in the attack.
A tricycle (keke) operator who pleaded anonymity said the gunmen in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), four in number around 9:00am drove close to the Omata Junction police checkpoint and suddenly started shooting.
He said that the police responded and crossfire ensued which caused road users to scamper for safety. The keke rider said he fractured his led in an attempt to escape from the scene of the shooting as everybody was running helter-skelter to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that one of his men was fatally hit by an explosive device thrown by the gunmen during the attack.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Nnaghe Obono Itam had already declared manhunt operation on the fleeing attackers as joint team of the police and local vigilantes were said to be on top of the pursuit.
