3 policemen killed by gunmen in Enugu

From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the attack and killing of three policemen by gunmen in the New Haven area of the capital city, Enugu.

The deceased, who were on duty and moving in a police patrol van, along Chime Avenue, New  Haven, were attacked by the gunmen said to be operating in a Lexus SUV who opened fire on them in front of Frank Supermarket, Block Bus Stop.

A witness said two of the police operatives fell to the bullets of the hoodlums on the spot, while one died later in the hospital.

However, confirming the incident to Daily Sun, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said a manhunt for the assailants had commenced.

He said: “Intensive manhunt operation is ongoing to fish out the unknown assailants who, operating in a Lexus SUV, suddenly opened fire on a moving police patrol van on duty, along Chime Avenue, New Haven, Enugu, on 07/09/2022, at about 10.15pm, leading to three of the operatives sustaining severe gunshot wounds and later confirmed dead at the hospital.”

Ndukwe was, however, silent on the report that one of the police operatives was missing.

One of the eyewitnesses, who said they assisted the DPO, New Haven Police Station, take the third policeman to hospital, said he was driving down Chime avenue when he saw the gunmen overtake the Hilux van of the policemen.

He said: “Immediately they overtook them, they stopped and opened fire on them. I quickly reversed and entered the next street for safety.

“When we couldn’t hear the gunshot anymore, we came out and saw one policeman struggling with his life on the floor. We thought that’s the only victim until someone saw two more people inside the drainage. The two officers inside the drainage were dead.”