Gunmen Kill Two Policemen, Burn Patrol Vehicle In Akwa-Ibom

Gunmen on Tuesday evening killed two policemen at a checkpoint at Urua Inyang in Ika Local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

The hoodlums, it was gathered, came on several motorcycles and attacked policemen at the checkpoint.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen opened fire on the officers, prompting some of the policemen to run away.

The hoodlums then carted away rifles and burnt down their van.

An eyewitness, Inimfon Silas, who hails from the local government, confirmed the incident to the Nation on Wednesday.

He said: “The armed hoodlums on several motorcycles stormed the checkpoint and shot the two officers dead while others fled, leaving the hoodlums to seize their riffles and set patrol the van ablaze”.

Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, who confirmed the incident to newsmen on Wednesday, said the Commissioner of Police, Amiengheme Andrew, is already in Ika for an-on-the-spot assessment of the attack.

“We are in Ika, trying to gather more facts about the incident”, Macdon said, adding that he would be in a better position to give details after the visit,” he said.

He said the Commissioner of Police and the entire Police community in the state are saddened by the several attacks against security operatives in the last few months.

The latest killing brings to five policemen killed in the line of duty in Akwa Ibom by gunmen while four others were declared missing in the recent times.